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Litigation risk and financial leverage

Author

Listed:
  • James Malm

    (College of Charleston)

  • Marcin Krolikowski

    (Providence College)

Abstract

In this paper, we use a unique hand-collected dataset on corporate litigation to examine the relationship between litigation risk and financial leverage. We find that an increase in litigation risk is associated with a significant decrease in total debt. Partitioning total debt into long-term debt and short-term debt, we find a negative relationship between litigation risk and long-term debt. There is no significant relationship between litigation risk and short-term debt.

Suggested Citation

  • James Malm & Marcin Krolikowski, 2017. "Litigation risk and financial leverage," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 41(1), pages 180-194, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jecfin:v:41:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s12197-015-9348-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s12197-015-9348-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hemant Kushwaha & Sanjay Kumar Mishra & Manoj Kumar, 2023. "Management of litigation risk by Indian MSMEs," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(2), pages 321-336, June.
    2. Qin, Jiaqi & Yang, Xue & He, Qing & Sun, Lingxia, 2021. "Litigation risk and cost of capital: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    3. Malm, James & Soyeh, Kenneth W. & Kanuri, Srinidhi, 2023. "Litigation risk and corporate performance," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    4. Malm, James & Adhikari, Hari P. & Krolikowski, Marcin W. & Sah, Nilesh B., 2021. "The old guard: CEO age and corporate litigation," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    5. Omer Unsal & Blake Rayfield, 2020. "Corporate governance and employee treatment: evidence from takeover defenses," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 44(2), pages 361-391, April.
    6. Karol Marek Klimczak & Alejo José G. Sison & Maria Prats & Maximilian B. Torres, 2022. "How to Deter Financial Misconduct if Crime Pays?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(1), pages 205-222, August.
    7. Ligon, James A. & Malm, James, 2018. "Litigation risk, financial distress, and the use of subsidiaries," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 255-272.
    8. Omer Unsal & M. Kabir Hassan, 2020. "Employee lawsuits and capital structure," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 663-704, June.
    9. Duan, Ran, 2023. "Patent trolls and capital structure decisions in high-tech firms," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    10. Unsal, Omer, 2019. "Employee relations and firm risk: Evidence from court rooms," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 1-16.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Litigation risk; Financial leverage; Debt maturity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General

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