Public Company Resource Hub

Cooley has launched IPO GO, an interactive resource designed specifically for executives, legal teams and finance professionals preparing to go public via an initial public offering (IPO). Accessible from anywhere, including phones, tablets and desktops, IPO GO is a site where companies can find critical resources, practical legal tips and documentation to help develop and prepare for an IPO. The tool is anchored by the Form S-1 registration statement, the primary legal document for executing an IPO.

On February 11 and 12, 2025, the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the SEC provided a pre-Valentine’s Day treat for public companies and shareholders to digest in the form of two new significant sets of guidance with the potential to significantly reshape shareholder engagement and activism – including guidance on shareholder proposals submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and institutional investor engagement.

2024 was a prolific year for activists, with 243 campaigns launched globally – the highest number since 2018. US activity was up modestly, and a busy year in Asia offset a quieter year in Europe. With the 2025 proxy season in full swing, read Cooley M&A’s round-up of the 2024 activism landscape here.

Catch up on the recently updated 2025 proxy voting guidelines from BlackRock and Vanguard. The updates from these two leading institutional investors introduce new provisions to reflect evolving perspectives on governance, compensation, sustainability and shareholder engagement – including notable softening of board diversity policies. Read on for Cooley's overview of key policy updates and insights from both firms' 2025 guidelines.

Cooley’s public companies group hosted its annual SEC Annual Reporting Workshop, featuring sessions focused on drafting various SEC disclosures and identify pitfall you need to avoid. In this session, partners Kristen Mathews and Sara Sellers explored the evolving role of AI in public companies and related corporate governance and disclosure matters.

Learn more about the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Whistleblower annual report, UPS’ $45 million penalty for improperly valuing a business unit, SEC charges against Kiromic BioPharma and two former C-suite executives for misleading investors about the status of Food and Drug Administration reviews, SEC charges against a former CEO for insider trading in advance of a negative earnings announcement, the Fifth Circuit vacating Nasdaq’s board diversity listing standards, the SEC’s approval of further amendments to Nasdaq’s reverse stock split requirements, and California giving companies an extra year before fully enforcing new climate reporting rules.