UC Law Center Chief Discusses Corporate Ethics, Compliance

Experts examine the legacy of the landmark Caremark decision and best practices for building effective compliance systems.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 6:18am

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Neil Taylor, Corporate Law director at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, and Bridget McGraw, a UC Law alum and general counsel at GE Aerospace, discussed the importance of corporate ethics, compliance programs, and the lasting impact of the 1996 Caremark decision on WVXU's Cincinnati Edition. They emphasized the need for corporate leaders to foster a culture of openness, encourage dissent, and provide employees with multiple avenues to raise concerns.

Why it matters

The Caremark decision was a landmark case that established a corporate board's duty of oversight, leading to the widespread adoption of compliance programs across industries. Examining the progress and challenges in this area is crucial as businesses navigate an evolving regulatory landscape and seek to build ethical corporate cultures.

The details

Taylor and McGraw discussed how the Caremark decision prompted nearly all companies, not just those in highly-regulated industries, to implement compliance programs. They highlighted the importance of corporate leaders actively soliciting feedback, respecting dissent, and ensuring employees feel empowered to raise concerns. McGraw emphasized the need for multiple reporting channels and for leaders to demonstrate that they have heard and addressed employee input.

  • The Delaware Chancery Court issued its Caremark decision in 1996.
  • The discussion on WVXU's Cincinnati Edition took place in 2026, marking the 30th anniversary of the Caremark ruling.

The players

Neil Taylor

Corporate Law director at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Bridget McGraw

A UC Law alum and general counsel at Propulsion and Additive Technologies GE Aerospace.

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What they’re saying

“Before Caremark, companies in highly-regulated industries often had a compliance program, but after Caremark, nearly everyone did. Thirty years on, we want to use the anniversary to talk about what progress we have made and where we need to improve.”

— Neil Taylor, Corporate Law director, University of Cincinnati College of Law (WVXU)

“It does start with leaders and that respect for people and it is not just building a compliance program, it is that intentionality of building a culture of openness for all employees to raise their hand on any issue even the tough ones.”

— Bridget McGraw, General counsel, Propulsion and Additive Technologies GE Aerospace (WVXU)

The takeaway

The discussion highlights the ongoing importance of corporate ethics and compliance, with the Caremark decision serving as a catalyst for widespread adoption of compliance programs. However, experts emphasize that true progress requires fostering a culture of openness, respecting dissent, and empowering employees to raise concerns, in addition to implementing formal compliance systems.