• Join Us for the Fall Conference in San Francisco!

    CII’s exclusive Fall Conference will be held from September 8-10, 2025, at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco.

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  • CII Rings Closing Bell at Nasdaq

    CII board members, staff and supporters gathered in New York January 22 to ring the closing bell at Nasdaq commemorating CII's 40th anniversary as the leading voice of corporate governance.

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  • High Profile Speakers

    Our exclusive conferences include education, engagement, and knowledge-sharing in a smaller group setting. With high-profile speakers, these events offer unparalleled opportunities for institutional investors, investment professionals, and corporate governance experts to connect and learn from the best in the industry. 
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  • Thoughtful Research

    CII educates members, and the public, about best corporate governance practices and provides opportunities for members to interact with peers, investment executives and policymakers.

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  • Unparalled Networking Opportunities

    Since 1985, CII has connected long-term asset owners, asset managers, issuers and institutional investors with unmatched networking and engagement opportunities through our private events. 

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  • Trusted Advocacy

    Known for its integrity, leadership, analytical depth, and consensus-building, CII advocates with legislators, regulators, and key market participants on behalf of its members.

Upcoming Events

In Focus

Fall Conference Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for CII’s Fall Conference, taking place September 8–10, 2025, at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco. For more than four decades, this exclusive, members-only event has convened the most influential voices in investment, governance, and stewardship. The agenda will address today’s most pressing challenges, including geopolitical instability and evolving political and regulatory trends impacting capital markets. Learn more.

Circuit Court Affirms that Proxy Advice is not Proxy Solicitation

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on July 1 affirmed a February ruling by a D.C. District court, which held that proxy advice does not constitute a proxy solicitation under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. A 2020 SEC rule on proxy advisors, as well as a 2022 amendment to that rule, hinged on an SEC determination that proxy advice amounts to solicitation. CII, which submitted an amicus brief in the case, welcomed the decision. The SEC remains empowered to regulate proxy advice through the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

CII Poll Results Dispel Proxy Advisor Tropes

CII has published summary results from poll questions posed during a recent CII webinar on proxy advisors. The results suggest that a sizable gap may exist between conventional Washington narratives and practitioners' real-world experiences.

From Our Newsletter

Appellate Court Rules Proxy Advice is Not a Solicitation
7/10/2025 | Rosemary Lally
The D.C. Court of Appeals ruled July 1 that proxy advice does not qualify as a proxy solicitation, a categorization that had been the SEC’s statutory basis for prior rulemaking on proxy advice. The decision is the latest action in a long legal battle between Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and the National Association of Manufacturers.
Society Presses SEC Chair to Re-Categorize Small- and Mid-Cap Companies and Drop Disclosure Requirements
7/10/2025 | Rosemary Lally
The Society for Corporate Governance, a trade association with historical ties to U.S. corporate secretaries, late last month submitted a letter to SEC Chair Paul Atkins recommending changes to recategorize small- and mid-cap public companies and to remove several important disclosure requirements that they currently must meet.
ISSB Proposes Amendments to SASB Standards
7/10/2025 | Rosemary Lally
The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) is proposing amendments to the SASB Standards as well as amendments to the Industry-based Guidance on Implementing IFRS S2.

Our Mission

At the Council of Institutional Investors, we are dedicated to championing effective corporate governance, strong shareholder rights, and sensible financial regulations to cultivate fair and dynamic capital markets. Our mission encompasses educating members and the public on best corporate governance practices, fostering collaboration among professionals, and advocating for our member-approved governance policies that reflect a diverse range of interests.  CII engages with key market participants across the investor spectrum, including public pension systems, corporate retirement funds, foundations, labor union funds, asset managers, legislators, regulators, and other service providers. As a trusted source of expertise and ideas, we strive to promote fair, competitive capital markets that benefit all shareholders.