Ten Questions to Ask Before Joining a Public Company Board of Directors

Being asked to join the board of directors of a public corporation is an honor. Board membership can be an enriching experience and an avenue for personal and professional growth. However, in an increasingly litigious, regulated, and complex public company landscape, director candidates should conduct thoughtful and targeted due diligence on a company and its existing board practices before committing to a role that should be expected to extend over multiple years...

Sara B. Brody is a partner in Sidley Austin’s San Francisco office whose practice focuses on securities litigation and corporate governance disputes. She is the coleader of the firm’s Securities and Shareholder Litigation practice group and heads the Northern California litigation practice.

Jason T. Nichol is currently deputy general counsel of Penske Automotive Group. At the time this article was written, he was a senior managing associate in Sidley’s Chicago office who advised clients on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, capital markets transactions, and corporate governance and SEC disclosure matters.