How do conflicts of interest and related-party transactions create board-level disputes - and how do we manage them?

Conflicts of interest and related-party transactions arise whenever a director, officer or controlling shareholder stands on both sides of a dealing, and they are among the most common triggers for board-level disputes and later litigation.

They matter because even commercially sound transactions can be unwound, and reputations damaged, if the process around them looks self-serving.

This report sets out how conflicts and related-party dealings are regulated in your chosen jurisdiction and industry, and the disclosure and approval mechanics that protect a transaction.

It covers the warning indicators that a deal will be challenged, the realistic financial and reputational impact ranges, and the controls that withstand scrutiny.

It also sets out the point at which independent committees, corporate counsel and valuation experts should be engaged, rather than relying on the interested parties to police themselves.