Boardroom Excellence A Common Sense Perspective on Corporate Governance

In Boardroom Excellence, author Paul Brountas, a corporate attorney with more than forty years experience, discusses the qualities and components of effective boards in today's post-Enron environment. Written in a concise format, the book is filled with informative practical advice for board members of private, public, and nonprofit organizations. Boardroom Excellence contains an informed discussion of fundamental corporate governance issues, including the duties and responsibilities of directors and the proper interaction of the board with the CEO and management. Brountas reveals how board members can be most effective when they are independent, possess integrity, are well-informed and involved, and are proactive. Boardroom Excellence offers timely information about Establishing the values and qualities that board members should possess Developing an environment in the boardroom where skepticism and serious discussion are encouraged Understanding what the CEO expects of the board and what the board expects of the CEO Creating effective independent audit, compensation, nominating, and governance committees Formulating guidelines for periodic evaluation of the performance of the board and individual board members

Paul P. Brountas is senior counsel at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, an international law firm with over 1,000 lawyers in 12 countries. He has focused on the representation of public and private corporations, start-up and emerging growth companies, venture capitalists, investors and underwriters in public and private financings, stockholders and investment bankers in mergers and acquisitions, and corporate directors both as counsel to corporate boards and as outside counsel to independent directors. Brountas is a frequent lecturer and has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s leading corporate lawyers. His clients have looked to him not only for legal advice but also for his judgment as a business counselor and problem solver. Brountas has served as chairman of the board and board member of several nonprofit and community organizations.