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Independent directors’ legal expertise, bank risk-taking and performance

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  • Liu, Guoping
  • Sun, Jerry

Abstract

This study examines whether independent directors’ legal expertise affects bank risk-taking and performance. Using a sample of U.S. banks, we document that the proportion of legal experts among independent directors is negatively related to total risk and systematic risk, suggesting that legal experts are more effective in constraining bank risk-taking activities than other independent directors. In addition, this effect of legal expertise is more pronounced for banks with high CEO risk-taking incentives. We also find that independent directors’ legal expertise is negatively associated with Tobin’s q, in contrast to the notion that legal expertise can enhance bank performance. Overall, our findings suggest that legal experts among independent directors play a more effective role in the oversight of bank risk-taking than other directors; however, the mitigation of risk-taking does not necessarily improve bank performance.

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  • Liu, Guoping & Sun, Jerry, 2021. "Independent directors’ legal expertise, bank risk-taking and performance," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jocaae:v:17:y:2021:i:1:s1815566920300540
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcae.2020.100240
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    2. Emmadonata Carbone & Sara Saggese & Fabrizia Sarto, 2023. "La relazione tra l?esperienza degli amministratori e il business plan: un?indagine empirica sulle imprese quotate in Italia," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(1), pages 69-94.
    3. Britney Pisani & Peter J. Baldacchino & Norbert Tabone & Lauren Ellul & Simon Grima, 2023. "Board Diversity in Selected Large Maltese Family-Controlled Businesses and its Implications on Corporate Governance," International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, vol. 13(3), pages 14-49.
    4. Hearn, Bruce, 2022. "The Determinants of Foreign Multinational Enterprise Firms' Board Governance in Caribbean Offshore Island Economies," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(4).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Banks; Directors; Legal expertise; Risk-taking; Performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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