KPMG has announced it is to hold a series of seminars, starting from today, to talk about the responsibility of directors and current best practices.

The free sessions, which are run in association with the Institute of Directors (IoD), will kick off today with a focus on current best practices as established by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

?In particular, directors? oversight responsibility and common legal issues encountered by directors of both private and public Bermuda companies will be discussed,? said the company in a release. Richard Lightowler, partner at KPMG and David Cooke, partner at Conyers Dill & Pearman are co-presenting the seminar which will be held at KPMG?s offices in Crown House on Par-la-Ville Road.

Mr. Lightowler is an audit partner in the Insurance practice with KPMG Bermuda, whose clients range from captives of Fortune 500 companies to large commercial reinsurers registered with the SEC. Mr. Cooke practices in the corporate department of Conyers Dill & Pearman and works on asset financing, widely held/public companies and mergers and acquisitions and is involved with corporate and commercial law.

?A vast number of responsibilities arise for today?s director,? says IoD chairman, Reg Rawlins. ?Sarbanes-Oxley is another area where companies must adhere to strict regulations.

?The April seminar will touch on such topics as the legal framework for directors? actions and practical considerations. We look forward to hearing from two competent advisors who deal with these issues on a daily basis.?

Two additional seminars are scheduled for Wednesday, May 12, ?The Many Faces of Fraud? which will be co-presented by Michael Peer of KPMG and Kulandra Ratneser, the acting Director of Public Prosecutions.

The other is called ?Aligning Business Continuity Management with Government Emergency Management Strategies? will be co- presented by David Ciera of KPMG and Jonathan Smith, of the Government Emergency Services Organisation on Wednesday, May 26.

All seminars start with a light continental breakfast at 8 a.m and KPMG clients and IoD can members may register by e-mailing