Publications

August 1987 (Revised June 1989)
Background Note

Note on Financial Contracting: ""Deals""

By: William A. Sahlman

Describes the issues involved in designing and evaluating financial contracts between users and suppliers of capital and between companies and employees. A simple conceptual framework is introduced and some critical issues addressed: 1) How is cash allocated? 2) How is... View Details

Keywords: Contracts; Framework; Problems and Challenges; Corporate Finance

14 Apr 2015
First Look

First Look: April 14

managers responsible for stewarding brands. Publisher's link: http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9781138786837/ April 2015 Corporate Stewardship: Organizing for Sustainable Effectiveness Corporate and... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

17 Jul 2000
What Do You Think?

Where Is the Microsoft Board?

interests of shareholders alone or, those of all stakeholders, including employees and customers? Moris Simson (HBS ISMP 91) Mitel Corporation Those taking issue with these premises generally saw the company's leadership with the support... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett

January 2008 (Revised March 2008)
Supplement

Uría Menéndez (B) (Abridged)

By: Robert G. Eccles

This one-page case, to be handed out in class, briefly lists the three major strategic options facing Uria Menendez. View Details

Keywords: Corporate Strategy; Law; Geographic Location; Expansion; Strategic Planning; Legal Services Industry; Iberian Peninsula

2007
Article

Business Methods Patents as Real Options: Value and Disclosure as Drivers of Litigation

By: Atul Nerkar, Srikanth Paruchuri and Mukti Khaire

This paper proposes that patents are real options that allow holders of patents the right but not the obligation to sue others. We suggest that the likelihood of a patent's being litigated is positively associated with the value of the patent and the extent of... View Details

Keywords: Value; Corporate Disclosure; Lawsuits and Litigation; Patents; Rights; Business Processes

Find at Harvard

07 Dec 2009
Research & Ideas

Government’s Positive Role in Kick-Starting Entrepreneurship

corporate positions, not from academia. Studies have documented that, for these individuals, the attractiveness of entrepreneurial activity is very sensitive to tax policy. Also important is ensuring that the View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Technology

23 Dec 2013
Research & Ideas

Just How Independent are ‘Independent’ Directors?

place—China. In 2001, the country transitioned to independent boards and passed a unique law requiring board members of publicly traded firms to reveal when they dissent from the majority opinion, along with an explanation for their... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Blanding

July 2003 (Revised February 2004)
Background Note

M&A Legal Context: Standards Related to the Sale or Purchase of a Company

By: Carliss Y. Baldwin, Constance E. Bagley and James Quinn

Introduces students to the legal standards affecting officers and directors when selling or purchasing a company. Provides a practical understanding of the Revlon Standard, the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, Rule 10b-5, and the legal criteria for a cause of... View Details

Keywords: Laws and Statutes; Law Enforcement; Government Legislation; Acquisition; Business Exit or Shutdown; Corporate Governance; Going Public; Courts and Trials

August 2013
Case

Harold Mills at ZeroChaos (A)

By: Lena G. Goldberg and Maurice L. Kuykendoll II

After leading a management buy-out, Harold Mills transformed ZeroChaos into a global staffing enterprise. Poised to raise additional capital to fund the company's next phase of growth, he was also confronting the liquidity demands of his early-stage investors and... View Details

Keywords: Legal Aspects Of Business; Law; Business Growth and Maturation; Corporate Finance

September 2023
Teaching Note

Patagonia: 'Earth Is Now Our Only Shareholder'

By: Brian Trelstad, Nien-hê Hsieh, Michael Norris and Susan Pinckney

Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 323-057. Patagonia’s change of ownership from a privately held company to a perpetual purpose trust and 501(c)(4) nonprofit in order to use the company’s profit to fight the environmental crisis and be a model for future businesses. View Details

15 Nov 2011
First Look

First Look: November 15

duopoly rather than to remain a monopolist. Bias in Search Results?: Diagnosis and Response Author:Benjamin Edelman Publication:The Indian Journal of Law and Technology 7 (2011) Abstract I explore allegations of search engine bias,... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

07 Aug 2007
First Look

First Look: August 7, 2007

Working PapersThe New Market for Federal Judicial Law Clerks Authors:Christopher Avery, Christine Jolls, Richard Posner, and Alvin E. Roth Abstract In the past, judges have often hired applicants for judicial clerkships as early as the... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

10 Oct 2007
First Look

First Look: First Look: October 10

corporate confessions presents something of a behavioral paradox. Tasked with monitoring the legality of its own operations, why would firms that identify violations turn themselves in to regulators rather than quietly fix the problem?... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

February 2021
Case

The Tulsa Massacre and the Call for Reparations

By: Mihir Desai, Ruth Page, Suzanne Antoniou and Leanne Fan

How should historic social injustices be addressed? Survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre and their descendants, including Representative Regina Goodwin of Tulsa, believe they should be addressed through reparations and have consequently continued to push the government... View Details