The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on May 30, 2024, approved a settled final judgment against technology company Arista Networks' former chairman and CEO, Andreas "Andy" Bechtolsheim based on...more
In SEC v Panuwat, a federal jury in California will hear a novel insider trading theory that the court has allowed to proceed to trial. In Panuwat, the SEC says it is unlawful for an individual to purchase securities of a...more
On December 27, 2022—nearly 18 months after hearing oral arguments—the Second Circuit issued its new opinion in United States v. Blaszczak, an important insider trading case involving the misappropriation of confidential...more
In light of the recent increased volatility in the global financial markets, a number of companies have raised questions regarding the desirability of repurchasing shares at reduced market prices. This alert addresses...more
Everyone knows that employees cannot buy or sell securities while in possession of material nonpublic information. However, when we think about material non-public information, we usually think in terms of information...more
A California Court recently allowed the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or “Commission”) to proceed with its first insider trading prosecution based on a theory of “shadow trading.” On January 14, 2022, Judge...more
The SEC recently unveiled a novel "Shadow Trading" theory that expands insider trading liability. "Shadow Trading" describes when an insider with material, non-public information regarding their own company uses that...more
On January 14, 2022, Judge William Orrick of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order denying a former biopharmaceutical company executive’s motion to dismiss and allowing the...more
On Sept. 14, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) entered a cease-and-desist order against App Annie Inc. and its co-founder and former CEO, Bertrand Schmitt, after agreeing to settle securities fraud claims....more
Key Points - The SEC has charged App Annie, Inc. and its former CEO with violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5, which constitute the primary mechanism for enforcing insider trading violations. This...more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has a long history of adopting novel theories in litigation to convince the courts to expand the scope of the federal insider trading laws. The SEC's latest effort comes in an...more
Last week, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint in federal court in California premised on the novel legal theory that the insider trading laws apply where an insider uses confidential information...more
Last year, we reviewed the Second Circuit decision in United States v. Blaszczak, which made it easier to prosecute trading on inside information. A divided panel of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals declined to extend the...more
A Pennsylvania federal court held yesterday that an agreement not to use confidential inside information for trading purposes need not precede the receipt of that information in order to create liability under the...more
Companies have lots of very good reasons for adopting codes of conduct. These reasons include: - Ensuring compliance with applicable exchange listing rules (e.g., NYSE Rule 303A.10 and NASDAQ Rule 5610); -...more
If you are a fan of sports, the reality television show Shark Tank or the nuances of insider trading laws (no doubt the smallest of these three fanbases), then you probably followed with some interest the SEC’s four-year...more