Current Issues of Executive Compensation in the Financial Industry

Monday, April 9, 2012

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

James E. Rogers College of Law, Room 237 (Faculty Lounge)

In analyzing the recent collapse of financial markets around the world, one heavily-debated topic is the extent to which compensation to bankers influenced risky decisions and aggressive market strategies. The question remains largely unresolved, though a spate of fact-finding and regulatory efforts generated controversies that remain high in the public consciousness.

At an upcoming conference, hosted by the James E. Rogers College of Law scholars from both finance and law fields will tackle issues in executive compensation contributing to the collapse of financial institutions and in assessing subsequent regulation to prevent its recurrence.

“We hope to come to a better understanding of how executive compensation affected financial institutions’ corporate governance, operational decisions, and fundamental business strategies,” said Professor Simone Sepe, “ in addition to looking forward, at how regulatory mechanisms can operate as structural “checks” or counterbalances.”

The series is free and open to members of the public. Those wishing to attend should contact Barbara Lopez at 520-626-1740 or lopezb@email.arizona.edu to determine whether seats are available.

Agenda:

The conference will begin with introductory remarks from UA Law Dean Lawrence Ponoroff, law Professor Robert Mundheim and Professor Rick Sias from the Eller College of Management. Sessions include paper presentations and discussions about:

“Dodd-Frank Say on Pay: Will It Lead To A Greater Role for Shareholders in

Corporate Governance?”

Prof. Randall Thomas, John S. Beasley II Professor of Law and Business, Vanderbilt Law School.

“Trends in Bank Executive Compensation and Implications for Taxpayer Risk”

Prof. David Walker, Maurice Poch Faculty Research Scholar, Boston University School of Law.

“Bank Risk Taking and Bank Middle Management Incentives” Prof. Lubomir Litov and

Prof. Simone Sepe, Eller College of Management. and University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.

“Bank Executive Compensation and Capital Requirements Reform”

Prof. Sanjai Bhagat, Provost Professor of Finance, University of Colorado-Boulder.

“Recent Innovations in Compensation and the Implications for Financial Institutions”Prof. Jeffrey Coles, Francis J. and Mary B. Labriola Endowed Chair in Competitive Business Finance, W.P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University.

“When Executive Compensation Meets Reality”

John Cannon, Partner, Shearman & Sterling LLP.

Conference sessions will include time for questions and interactive discussion.

Updated: 04/02/2012