The Composition of Top Management with General Counsel and Voluntary Information Disclosure

Abstract

We examine whether the composition of top management with General Counsel (GC) affects properties of management earnings forecasts disclosures. After controlling for corporate governance and litigation risk, we find that firms with a GC in top management are more likely to issue forecasts, particularly bad news forecasts, than other firms. Further, their forecasts are less optimistic and more accurate than those issued by others. Consistently, the stock price reaction to their forecast news is stronger. These effects are more pronounced when the GC’s managerial status is higher. Overall, our results suggest that GCs play an important role in corporate disclosures.

Keywords: Top management composition, General counsel, Voluntary governance mechanism, Voluntary information disclosure, Management earnings forecasts

JEL Classification: G3, K41, M19, M41, M48