Ensuring independence in the exercise of functions by the board of directors of joint-stock companies

This article is devoted to the problem of ensuring the independence of the board of directors of joint-stock companies. The author points out that there are several approaches to recognizing the status of an independent director for a person. The article discusses the ideal model of relationships within the board of directors, in which the objective decisions in the interests of a legal entity is developed. The author focuses on the role of independent directors in the board of directors, including in terms of control the activities of the executive bodies of a legal entity, resolving conflicts of interest in the decision-making process. The article analyzes the problem of maintaining a balance of interests of various subjects in the decision-making process and the approaches developed in judicial practice that indicate that such a balance is not observed. The author considers issues related to the performance by directors of the duty to make independent judgments, determines the criteria for assessing the independence of judgments.