Websites

1. Wikipedia: definition of Corporate Finance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_finance (last visited February 25, 2007).

This website provides a general definition of corporate finance and also links to related topics and subject of corporate finance. Not only is a definition of corporate finance given but scrolling down on the page provides detailed explanations of the individual topics. This webpage (as most encyclopedias) caters to those with little knowledge on the particular subjects, however the cursory topics discussed may help someone who is just learning about the area of law relating to corporate finance. At the very bottom of the web page are links to various articles, college websites, and other web pages on the specific individual topics. At the top of the wikipedia webpage is a tab titled Discussion which allows viewers of the webpage to read discussions that have previously taken place regarding the content of the wikipedia page.

2. SEC Law.com

http://www.seclaw.com/centers/corpfin.shtml (last visited February 28, 2007)

This is a very helpful website that provides a very thorough discussion on the laws that affect corporate financing. This webpage provides links to web pages which provide in-depth information on the following topics: Federal Securities Laws, Securities Arbitration, Private Placements, Blue Sky Laws, the Process of Initial Public Offerings, and an Introduction to Insider Trading. The website provides a helpful start for those looking to find what law governs the specific areas of business, specifically corporations.

3. Find Law

http://library.findlaw.com/2002/May/27/132496.html (last visited 2/16/07).

This web-page provides a link to an article titled Real Estate Financing Options Include Interest Rate Derivatives, written by Walter S. Pollard. The article provides a fairly in-depth scholarly discussion on one of the more recent methods used for financing real estate endeavors. The author of the article does a wonderful job of defining and explaining the terms and concepts of interest rate derivative and how they can be used as opposed to the current methods used to finance real estate. The fairly short article provides a vast amount of information.

4. The Laws that Govern the Securities Industry

http://sec.gov/about/laws.shtml (last visited 3/01/07).

This website provides a brief synopsis of each separate act of legislation which has been passed governing the area of securities law, from the Securities Act of 1933 to the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. In addition to the synopsis, the website also points out the nuisances of every act by giving a brief summary of those as well. The web site is a wonderful way to begin researching securities laws, and also provides links to the full text of each of the act and for the Sarbanes Oxley Act provides a link to the commission rule making and reports issued. On the left side of the page are several links to other useful pages and websites, including links to specific forms and pdf files that could prove very useful.

5. Entrepreneur.Com

http://www.entrepreneur.com/howto/raisemoney/index.html (last visited 3/1/07).

This initial web page provides a list of 18 sources for companies, from new businesses to established corporations to find financing. Each of the 18 items listed was a link to a separate web page which provided a lengthy discussion on that particular form of lending. At the end of each page on the specific topic there are an array of links to articles which provide more information on each topic. Each page dedicated to a specific topic starts with a brief summary giving a definition of the financing, what type of business the financing is best suited for, the supply, best use, cost and ease of acquisition for each financing option. Not only are the links related to the financing options helpful the other pages which can be linked to are also useful in the practice of business, especially the portion of the web site that is dedicated specifically to the area of finance.

Books

6. Steve Bergman, Maverick Real Estate Financing: The Art of Raising Capital and Owning Properties Like Ross, Sanders and Carey, (Wiley 2006).

7. Jack Guttentag, Mortgage Encyclopedia: An Authoritative Guide to Mortgage Programs, Practices, Prices and Pitfalls (McGraw-Hill 2004).

This book tells you everything you or your potential client could ever want to know about mortgages, or at least points you in the right direction. This book was published recently (2004) and has a leg up on older sources which may not have some of the more current options available. This book provides a good explanation of the different types of mortgages and to whom each is best suited for. This book does a very good job of defining all the mortgage related terms. Aside from the invaluable content the book is organized in such a way that finding the right information quickly is very easy. Although targeted at buyers of real estate, this book would be helpful to attorney’s who are trying to help their clients find the best type of mortgage, and could be helpful in negotiating the terms of that mortgage.

Newsletter

8. Business Council Update (West Publications) December 2005.

This is a newsletter published by West Publications and is available on West-Law in the publications database. The news letter is written by Allen S. Gutterman. The December 2005 newsletter provides an article titled “Refinancing Commercial Real Estate Mortgages To Lock In Long-Term Savings.” This article provides the step by step process of how to refinance a commercial real estate mortgage. When accessed from WestLaw, there are several links that take you to the specific forms that one would need to complete such an endeavor. This article and its contents would be particularly helpful to an attorney who is guiding their client through such a transaction. Not only does the article discuss how, but also provides an explanation of why the corporation would want to refinance the mortgage. Although the newsletter is from 2005, the interest rates have stayed fairly low and I feel that the article is still very relevant and could be immensely helpful.