Jean Metzinger, Paysage coloré aux oiseaux aquatique (1907)

Corporations:A Contemporary Approach

Chapter 7Forming the Corporation

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Jean Metzinger, Paysage coloré aux oiseaux aquatique (1907)



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• Process of incorporation– Contents of articles– Formalities

• Role of lawyers:– Who is client? – Client confidences– Lawyer as director

• Defective incorporation– Corporation not formed: parties aware /

parties not aware– Corporation formed: dissolved by state /

misused by parties

Module III – Corporate Form

Citizen of world

Citizen of world

Law profession

Law profession

Corporate practice

Corporate practice

Bar examBar

exam



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ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

1. Name. The name of corporation is Your Awesome Home, Inc.

2. Shares authorized. The corporation can issue 1,000 shares of stock.

3. Registered office and agent. The corporation’s registered office is 1301 Worrell Prof Bldg, WFU. Registered agent is AR Palmiter.

4. The incorporator is AR Palmiter, 3333 Worrell, W-S, NC 27109.

AR Palmiter AR Palmiter, incorporator

How do you incorporate?

https://www.secretary.state.nc.us/corporations/pdf/BusinessCorporation.pdf



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ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

1. Name of corporation• How do you know the name is available, in proper form? MBCA § 4.01• What are the corporation’s purposes? MBCA § 3.01• What are the corporation powers? MBCA § 3.02

2. Shares authorized• Why is this so important?• What about the rights of the shares?• What about the share’s price? What about “par value”?

3. Registered office/agent1. Who can be registered agent? MBCA § 5.012. Why is registered office/agent required?3. Is the registered agent liable for corporate obligations?

4. Incorporator • Who are the directors, officers, shareholders?• Can liability of directors, officers, Shs be specified? MBCA § 2.02

http://www.wfu.edu/~palmitar/ICBCorporations-Companion/Conexus/MBCA/chapter04.htm




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1. True or false. A corporation’s name must have an ending such as “Inc.” or “Corp.”

2. To know whether a corporate name is available -- a. Do a Google searchb. Check business

directories and phone books

c. Check the Secy of State’s websited. All of the above

3. The corporation’s powers ...

a. Must be specified in the articles

b. Cannot be specified in the articles, but bylaws

c. Must be consistent with stated purposes

d. Are those of natural persons

4. True or false? The board of directors can issue shares, to raise capital from new investors, even if shares are not authorized in the articles.

Pop quiz

1-T / 2-D / 3-C / 4-F



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5. The registered agent must be –a. A person who works in the

corporation’s principal offices b. A natural person over the age

of 18c. A corporation that can receive

service of process d. In NC, an individual or business

entity with the same business address as the corporation

6. True or false? The registered agent is liable for the corporation’s contractual and tort obligations.

7. The incorporator is:a. An individual or company

that files the articlesb. An individual or company

that undertakes to file an annual report for the corporation

c. The individual or business entity that prepares a “certificate of existence”

8. The articles of incorporation can:a. Limit the liability of directors

for negligenceb. Limit the liability of directors

who act in bad faithc. Limit the liability of directors

who approve illegal actsd. None of the above

5-D / 6-F / 7-A / 8-A




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EDGAR

Two NC corporations …

Website



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Post-incorporation formalities

Organizational meeting • Held by incorporators or

initial board• Actions:

– elect directors, – adopt bylaws, – appoint officers, – adopt corporate seal,– designate bank account,– sell stock, – approve shareholders’

agreement • Minutes of meeting

shivaree (shiv-uh-REE) noun

A noisy, mock serenade to a newly married couple, involving the banging of kettles, pots and pans.



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Basil (who you represented before) asks you to help him to form a corporation for a new beverage business.

He will be joined by Sybil (who will handle finances) and Gowan (who has the money).

You are a corporate lawyer – this is your work. Who do you represent?

Basil

Gowan, Jr.

Gowan

Sybil

Role of lawyer …



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Who do you represent?

Gowan:

Thanks for explaining that you’ll help form a corporation.

As you know my son Gowan, Jr. is pretty unsure about his future. I’m investing in this company so there’ll be a place for him. I’d like you to draft papers that give me voting control, though Basil and Sybil don’t have to know.

Please hold this in confidence and draft the papers as I want. As you know, I’m paying your bill.

What should you do?



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Model Rules of Professional Responsibility

Rule 1.13 Organization as Client(a) A lawyer employed or retained by an organization represents the

organization acting through its duly authorized constituents.

Rule 1.4 Communication

A lawyer shall … promptly inform the client of any decision or circumstance with respect to which the client’s informed consent … is required.



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What if a conflict?

Basil:

Thanks for taking on this new legal work for us. As you know from your work for me on my divorce, there are some pretty personal things that I’ve told you. I assume you won’t be telling the others.

Under his breath, “Like you know I’m really strapped for cash. What with child support and alimony, I’m not sure what to do. But with this new company I plan to get out as much cash as quickly as I can.”

What should you do?



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Rule 1.6 Confidentiality of Information A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent.

Rule 1.7 Conflict of Interests: Current Clients … a lawyer shall not represent a client if the representation involves a

concurrent conflict of interest [But] a lawyer may represent [such] a client if – [lawyer provides competent representation]– [not prohibited]– [not in same litigation]– [each affected client gives informed consent, in writing]

Rule 1.4 Communication

A lawyer shall … promptly inform the client of any decision or circumstance with respect to which the client’s informed consent … is required.



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Is employee/constituent a client?

Sybil:

Thanks for forming the company – things really seem to be going well.

Now that you’re our lawyer, I thought you should know that I told the others I have an MBA and know accounting, but I don’t. Not to say I’m clueless – in my last job I actually got away with embezzling about $250,000.

I really hope you won’t tell Basil or Gowan.

What should you do?



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Rule 1.13 Organization as Client

(a) A lawyer employed or retained by an organization represents the organization acting through its duly authorized constituents.

(b) If a lawyer for an organization knows of [someone intending to violate legal obligation or law], the lawyer shall refer the matter to higher authority in the organization [including the board of directors]

(c) .. If despite the lawyer’s efforts in (b) [the highest authority fails to act and the lawyer believes substantial injury is reasonably certain] the lawyer may reveal information relating to the representation



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Jean Metzinger, Paysage coloré aux oiseaux aquatique (1907)



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Your law firm is approached by a prospective client, Patty, who claims that she lost everything in a hurricane – and she has no insurance because Gowan (her agent) committed insurance fraud.

What do you say when the firm’s “conflicts” email reaches you? Law firm

Multiple representation …



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Serving as director for client …

You resolve all the possible conflicts, misunderstandings, tensions, and so on. You represent the “situation” – the corporation.

Basil, Sybil and Gowan recognize your wisdom and ask you to sit on the company’s board. Can you?

Louis Brandeis

“A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.”

Defective incorporation … permutations



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(1) Parties aware no incorporation:

Promoter liable to third party?

(2) Parties unaware no incorporation:

Promoter liable to third party?

(3) Corporation formed, but Secy State dissolves:

Insider liable on “corporate contract”?

(4) Corporation formed, but misused:

Insiders liable to third parties (PCV)?

Inco

rpor

atio

n

Pre-incorporation: Post-incorporation:



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CONTRACT

Parties: Seller & BuyerBuyer's obligations: blah, blah Seller's obligations: sure, sureWarranties: I assure, I assureRepresentations: I say, I say

RKO (Seller)Kent Enterprises, Inc. (Buyer)

[signed by Graziano]

(1) Pre-incorporation: both parties aware

¶ 19. It is understood that it is the intention of the Purchaser to incorporate. Upon condition that such incorporation be completed by closing, all agreements, covenants, and warranties contained herein shall be construed to have been made between Seller and the resultant corporation ...



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Does this do the trick?

Board Minutes Kent Enterprises, Inc.

The organizational meeting of the Board of Directors of Kent Enterprises Inc. was duly convened in ____ on _____, at _____.

* * * On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, it was

RESOLVED, That the Corporation adopt all agreements, covenants and warranties of [Contract with RKO] dated _____ and cause all documents to reflect the same.



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De facto corporation• Promoter good faith attempt• Promoter unaware• Promoter uses corporate form

Corporation by estoppel• Third party assumes corp.• Regardless of promoter

Regression analysis• Courts actually require BOTH

Sales agreement

* * *

M&P Corporation

Manuel By: Manuel, President

(2) Pre-incorporation: neither party aware



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Do statutes answer?

MBCA § 2.04

All persons purporting to act as or on behalf of a corporation, knowing there was no incorporation under this Act, are jointly and severally liable for all liabilities created while so doing.

NC BCA 55-2-04 (reserved) COMMENTARY

Section 2.04 of the Model Act, which relates to liability for pre-incorporation transactions, was omitted because it was thought to be too simplistic to apply to every pre-incorporation situation. General case law will apply.



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Oft-repeated sequence –

– 12/02: Corp not pay franchise taxes. State adm dissolves.

– 9/03: “Corp” enters into K with innocent third party.

– 12/03: Corp pays its taxes and State reinstates.

Who is liable on K?

(3) Post-incorporation: administrative dissolution



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NC BCA § 55-14-22 Reinstatement following administrative dissolution.

(a) A corporation administratively dissolved under G.S. 55-14-21 may apply to the Secretary of State for reinstatement within two years after the effective date of dissolution.

(b) If the Secretary of State determines that the application contains the information required by subsection (a) and that the information is correct, he shall cancel the certificate of dissolution and prepare a certificate of reinstatement that recites his determination and the effective date of reinstatement, file the original of the certificate, and mail a copy to the corporation.

(c) When the reinstatement is effective, it relates back to and takes effect as of the effective date of the administrative dissolution and the corporation resumes carrying on its business as if the administrative dissolution had never occurred, subject to the rights of any person who reasonably relied to his prejudice upon the certificate of dissolution.


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1. Fundamentals– Introduction to firm– Corporate basics

2. Corporations and policy– Corporate federalism– Corporate social responsibility – Corporate political action

3. Corporate form– Organizational choices– Incorporation– Locating corporate authority

4. Corporate finance– Numeracy for corporate lawyers– Capital structure

5. Corporate externalities– Piercing corporate veil– Corporate environmental liability– Corporate criminal liability

6. Corporate governance – Shareholder voting– Shareholder information rights– Public shareholder activism

7. Fiduciary duties1. Shareholder litigation2. Board decision making 3. Board oversight 4. Director conflicts5. Executive compensation 6. Corporate groups

• Stock trading– Securities markets– Securities fraud class actions– Insider trading

1. Corporate deals– Sale of control– Antitakeover devices– Deal protection

• Close corporations– Planning– Oppression

(4) Post-incorporation: insiders exploit creditors



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1. A and B plan to produce low-cost documentaries and post them on YouTube. A worries that B will become grandiose and rent a production studio for their business. What simple way can A’s worries be addressed?

a. A hold harmless clause for any unauthorized expansion of the business

b. A narrow purpose clause in the articles of incorporation

c. An indemnification provision in the bylaws

d. An employment agreement that outlines B’s responsibilities

2. A and B include a narrow purpose clause in the articles, and B nonetheless goes out and signs a rental on behalf of the corporation with an expensive production studio. Can A sue to have it voided?

a. Yes, third parties (here the lessor) are deemed to know any charter limits on corporate power

b. Yes, but only if the third-party lessor is aware of the limitation in the articles

c. No, limitations in a corporate charter only affect corporate parties (shareholders, directors, etc)

d. No, the ultra vires doctrine no longer applies in corporate law

3. A and B drop the idea of documentaries, and instead get back “to the earth” with a landscaping business. They agree to incorporate their business as AB Gardens, Inc. (ABG). Before incorporation, A signs a contract in the name of ABG to buy a truck.

a. The contract binds only ABG, assuming it was properly signed

b. The contract will bind only ABG, if the corporation later accepts it

c. The contract binds A, whether or not the seller agrees to look only to ABG under the contract

d. The contract binds A, only until ABG is formed and accepts the contract -- if the seller agrees

4. A mails articles of incorporation for ABG to the secretary of state’s office. But the filing is lost in the mail. Meanwhile, B signs a big landscaping job on behalf of ABG. The owner, unhappy with the work, sues A.

a. A is liable as a partner

b. A cannot be liable; he signed nothing

c. A is not liable, if B signed believing in good faith that ABG had been incorporated

d. A is not liable, if the owner (though not B) believed that ABG was incorporated

Group hypos



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5. A calls the secretary of state’s office are realizes the ABG articles were lost in the mail. He mails another set, this time certified mail. In the meantime, A learns of a landscaping “going out of business” sale and buys all the equipment on behalf of “ABG, a business about to be formed.”

a. A is not liable, assuming the other party accepts this signature

b. A is liable, even if the other party later enters into a novation with ABG, once formed

c. A is not liable, a disclosed agent is not liable, only the principal

d. A is liable, because a person acting on behalf of a non-existent corporation always is liable

6. Finally! ABG’s articles of incorporation are filed. B signs a lease for a storefront as follows:

ABG, Inc.

____________________

B, President of ABG, Inc.

a. Only ABG is bound under the lease

b. Only B is bound under the lease

c. Both ABG and B are bound

d. Neither ABG nor B is bound

7. ABG is a great success! A and B are so busy they forget to file an annual report with the secretary of state. On July 1, 2014, the secretary of state dissolves ABG. On August 1, 2014, A and B sign a merger agreement with Big Landscaping Corp.

a. The merger is not binding, only the board can sign a merger agreement

b. The merger is not binding, because ABG did not exist

c. The merger agreement can be made retroactively binding by filing an annual report

d. The merger agreement can be made retroactively binding by filing annual report, paying fees, and applying for reinstatement

8. Whew! ABG is OK again. This time A falsely tells the company’s bank that their equipment is “in top shape.” When ABG does not repay the bank loan …

a. Only ABG is liable as party to the loan

b. Only ABG is liable because bank cannot rely on representations of company officer

c. A can be liable if it is “just and equitable” to disregard the corporation

d. B can be liable because A committed fraud on behalf of the corporation

Group hypos




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The end

Jean Metzinger, Paysage coloré aux oiseaux aquatique (1907)

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