Answering the Call: Understanding the Duties, Risks, and Rewards of Corporate Governance

A how-to guidebook for senior executives pondering stepping up to corporate board service, the purpose of this manual is to explain clearly and briefly the duties, risks, and rewards of corporate board service.
Readers learn about what kind of due diligence is needed before deciding to accept an invitation to serve; and what will be expected once one gets there. Specifically, the book includes an overview of the various areas where a director may be held personally liable, what it means to be qualified for an audit committee, best practices for good corporate governance, and an in-depth look at D&O insurance written by the experts -- representatives from D&O insurance firm Darwin Professional Underwriters.
This book also includes a special section dedicated to the benefits of gender diversity in the boardroom.

LYNN SHAPIRO SNYDER is a senior member of the law firm Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., where she serves on the firm s Board and Finance Committee. The law firm has one of the largest health care and life sciences practices in the United States. Her clients include health care providers, payors, pharmaceutical/device manufacturers and those companies and financial services firms that support the health care industry. She is a frequent speaker and publishes extensively, and she also serves on several boards and advisory boards.
Additionally, Snyder is Founder and President of the Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation (WBL Foundation). Snyder founded this 501 (c) (3) non profit organization in 2001, with founding sponsor Epstein Becker & Green to meet the then-unmet needs of senior executive women in the U.S. health care industry.

ROBERT D. REIF chairs Epstein Becker & Green's National Business Law Practice and is a member of EBG s Health and Life Science Practice, heading the Corporate and Transactions subgroup. Mr. Reif represents a variety of health care companies, including managed care organizations, hospitals, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, prepaid dental plan companies, preferred provider organizations, utilization review companies, nursing homes, private equity companies, and lenders in health care.

Susan Chmieleski and Cynthia Oard of Darwin Professional Underwriters contribute Chapter Four, adding their unique perspective on directors' and officers' insurance.