Our recent client alert discusses a recent SEC staff bulletin covering the standards of conduct for broker-dealer and investment adviser conflicts of interest. The staff bulletin includes 13 Q&As categorized into five different flavors relating to identifying, eliminating, mitigating, and disclosing conflicts of interest, as well as related to product…
Our recent client alert discusses the CFTC’s longstanding practice of settling enforcement cases without seeking admissions of wrongdoing (so-called “no-admit/no-deny” settlements). CFTC Commissioner Romero suggests application of a “HEAT” test (Heightened Enforcement Accountability and Transparency), which would encourage CFTC staff to push for admissions of wrongdoing in actions with one or more bad…
Law360 published some of our recent thoughts on the SEC’s framework for regulating cryptocurrency and DeFi. You can read that article here.
The SEC recently brought fraud charges against Sterlington, Louisiana and its former mayor and separately against Rochester, New York and its former executives and Rochester’s municipal advisors and principals/owners for misleading investors related to their respective bond offerings. At a high level, the SEC alleged (collectively between the two matters):…
BrokerCheck is the database through which FINRA publishes licensing, registration, and disciplinary history of brokerage industry firms and their personnel. BrokerCheck does not currently specify whether a particular firm is a “Restricted Firm”–one FINRA considers to “pose far higher risks to the public than firms of similar size” based on…
Our recent client alert discusses the SEC complaint against three individuals alleging insider trading of digital assets via a scheme to trade ahead of multiple announcements regarding crypto assets being made available on a United States-based digital asset exchange at which one individual was a former product manager.
Securities law enforcement entered the metaverse recently in the form of an emergency cease and desist order issued by the Texas State Securities Board against individuals and a company using NFTs to finance multiple metaverse casinos. Much like Wyatt Earp busting into the O.K. Corral, this one gets interesting. The…
The SEC Division of Examinations recently published its list of priorities for 2022. While it was a bit late compared to a typical year, the priorities letter provides a roadmap for firms to better understand where the Division will take its examination efforts over the coming months. Significant focus areas…
FINRA recently published Regulatory Notice 22-10 reminding firms of the scope of Rule 3110 (Supervision) and the potential liability of Chief Compliance Officers for failure to reasonably discharge supervisory responsibilities delegated to them. FINRA recognizes that compliance and supervision are distinct roles that carry different obligations. FINRA has said that…
Our recent client alert distills FINRA’s findings on Reg. BI and Form CRS so you don’t need to read it all yourself.