On April 7, 2026, the SEC’s Division of Enforcement announced enforcement results for FY 2025, providing the first aggregate glimpse into enforcement activity under SEC Chair Atkins, sworn into office on April 21, 2025. In FY...more
4/14/2026
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Capital Markets ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cybersecurity ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Insider Trading ,
Market Manipulation ,
Ponzi Scheme ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud ,
Securities Regulation ,
Whistleblowers
Each week for the next 10 weeks, we will publish an installment of our Red Flags Everywhere! series, highlighting key risk areas that public companies and their boards of directors should keep top of mind.
This week, we...more
4/3/2026
/ 10b5-1 Plans ,
Board of Directors ,
Corporate Governance ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Insider Trading ,
Internal Controls ,
Material Nonpublic Information ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Risk Management ,
Rule 10b-5 ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ,
Securities Fraud ,
Securities Regulation
Each month, we publish a roundup of the most important SEC enforcement developments for busy in-house lawyers and compliance professionals. This month, we examine:
• SEC Chairman Paul Atkins’ testimony before Congress;...more
3/18/2026
/ Cooperation ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ,
Loper Bright Enterprises v Raimondo ,
Negligence ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Statutory Interpretation ,
Valuation ,
Wells Notice ,
Whistleblowers
On February 11, 2026, SEC Division of Enforcement Director Margaret Ryan delivered her first public speech since her appointment in September 2025. At the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s 56th Annual Securities Regulation...more
2/25/2026
/ Enforcement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Insider Trading ,
Investigations ,
Market Manipulation ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud ,
Securities Regulation ,
Wells Notice
Additionally, there were several notable leadership changes at the SEC in January. On January 2, Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw’s term concluded, leaving the agency with just three commissioners and no Democratic appointees....more
2/25/2026
/ Accounting Fraud ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Cryptoassets ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Disgorgement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Reporting ,
Insider Trading ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Rule 10b-5 ,
SCOTUS ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ,
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) ,
Tokenization
In Smart Study Co., Ltd v. Shenzhenshixindajixieyouxiangongsi, — F.4th —, No. 24-313 (2d Cir. Dec. 18, 2025), the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit addressed a question of first impression at the federal...more
2/9/2026
/ Appellate Courts ,
China ,
Default Judgment ,
Due Diligence ,
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure ,
Foreign Defendants ,
Hague Convention ,
International Litigation ,
Litigation Strategies ,
Personal Jurisdiction ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Service of Process ,
Trademark Infringement ,
Trademark Litigation
We publish a periodic roundup of the most important SEC enforcement developments for busy in-house lawyers and compliance professionals. Despite the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, which ran from October 1 to...more
1/27/2026
/ Broker-Dealer ,
Capital Markets ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Government Shutdown ,
Initial Public Offering (IPO) ,
Material Nonpublic Information ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud
Additionally, on September 26, 2025, SEC Chair Paul S. Atkins announced that the Commission will once again simultaneously evaluate settlement offers in SEC enforcement actions and requests for SEC waivers from automatic...more
10/27/2025
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ,
Market Manipulation ,
No-Action Letters ,
Ponzi Scheme ,
Rule 10b-5 ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ,
Securities Fraud ,
Securities Regulation
FINRA’s recent settlement with member Velocity Clearing, LLC spotlights supervisory priorities, serving as another reminder that even amid shifting SEC priorities and resource allocation, FINRA continues to impose significant...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has made clear—through its rulemaking, enforcement actions, public statements, and formidable “Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit” within the Division of Enforcement—that public...more
Each month, we publish a roundup of the most important SEC enforcement developments for busy in-house lawyers and compliance professionals. This month, we examine:
• Recent SEC activity pursuing alleged fraud in the...more
9/29/2025
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Enforcement Actions ,
First Amendment ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ,
Market Manipulation ,
Registered Investment Advisors ,
Securities Act of 1933 ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Exchange Act ,
Securities Fraud ,
Settlement
Each month, we publish a roundup of the most important SEC enforcement developments for busy in-house lawyers and compliance professionals. This month, we examine the following matters:
• An SEC complaint alleging a Georgia...more
8/25/2025
/ Blockchain ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Fraud ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investors ,
Ponzi Scheme ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud ,
Securities Violations ,
Voluntary Dismissals
Each month, we publish a roundup of the most important SEC enforcement developments for busy in-house lawyers and compliance professionals. This month, we examine the following matters:
• An SEC settlement with an ex-CEO...more
8/1/2025
/ CEOs ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Elder Abuse ,
Enforcement ,
Fraud ,
Hedge Funds ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investors ,
Misrepresentation ,
Ponzi Scheme ,
Portfolio Companies ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Unregistered Securities
On May 14, 2025, Deputy Enforcement Director Antonia Apps told those gathered at an anti‑money laundering conference in Washington, D.C. to expect a more measured approach from SEC Enforcement. That may include, she...more
6/25/2025
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Broker-Dealer ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Fraud ,
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investment Management ,
Penalties ,
Popular ,
Real Estate Development ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud ,
Securities Regulation ,
Settlement
Each month, we publish a roundup of the most important SEC enforcement developments for busy in-house lawyers and compliance professionals. For the month when Paul Atkins was sworn in as SEC Chairman, we examine:
• The SEC’s...more
5/28/2025
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Enforcement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fraud ,
Investment ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investment Funds ,
Receivership ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud ,
Securities Regulation ,
Securities Violations ,
Stablecoins
Each month, we publish a roundup of the most important SEC enforcement developments for busy in-house lawyers and compliance professionals. This month, we examine:
•An SEC action alleging an insider trading scheme and...more
4/23/2025
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Adviser ,
Ponzi Scheme ,
Private Funds ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud
To issue a subpoena for documents or testimony, Enforcement staff must first obtain a formal order. A formal order authorizes SEC staff “to administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take...more
On January 17, 2025, a few days before the presidential inauguration, the SEC reported a record-breaking first quarter of fiscal year 2025 (October through December 2024) with 200 total enforcement actions, including 118...more
2/27/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Governance ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fraud ,
Investment Adviser ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation ,
Securities Violations ,
Whistleblowers
Each month, we publish a roundup of the most important SEC enforcement developments for busy in-house lawyers and compliance professionals. This month, we examine:
•Insider trading charges against a professor overseeing...more
1/28/2025
/ Compliance ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Governance ,
Cybersecurity ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Crimes ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Fraud ,
Insider Trading ,
Perks ,
Risk Management ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation ,
Settlement
Each month, we publish a roundup of the most important SEC enforcement developments for busy in-house lawyers and compliance professionals. This month, SEC Chair Gary Gensler announced his imminent departure in January 2025...more
12/23/2024
/ American Depository Receipts (ADRs) ,
Anti-Fraud Provisions ,
Bribery ,
Broker-Dealer ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Gambling ,
Green Energy ,
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ,
Investors ,
Japan ,
Misleading Impressions ,
Misleading Statements ,
Renewable Energy ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)
Each month, we publish a roundup of the most important SEC enforcement developments for busy in-house lawyers and compliance professionals. This month, we examine:
•Accounting fraud charges for allegedly concealing costs;...more
11/29/2024
/ Accounting Fraud ,
Aerospace ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Bribery ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
ETFs ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Fraud ,
Greenwashing ,
Misleading Statements ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Unregistered Brokers
Given the recent news about President-Elect Trump’s cabinet appointments , it is a safe bet that the SEC Division of Enforcement’s priorities will change under the new administration. Under President Biden, SEC Chair Gary...more
11/15/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Board of Governors ,
Corner Post Inc v Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Insider Trading ,
Loper Bright Enterprises v Raimondo ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Share Buybacks ,
Trump Administration
On October 21, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) Division of Examinations (“EXAMS”) announced its 2025 Examination Priorities (the “2025 Priorities”), highlighting areas that it expects to target...more
11/4/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Compliance ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Investment Adviser ,
Popular ,
Private Funds ,
Registered Investment Advisors ,
Registered Investment Companies (RICs) ,
Regulation S-P ,
SEC Examination Priorities ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Exchange Act
Each month, we publish a roundup of the most important SEC enforcement developments for busy in house lawyers and compliance professionals. This month included the SEC’s fiscal year end and a large number of enforcement...more
10/25/2024
/ Bribery ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Media ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Form 10-K ,
John Deere ,
MNPI ,
Political Corruption ,
Regulation FD ,
Scams ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Social Media
Each month, we publish a roundup of the most important SEC enforcement developments for busy in-house lawyers and compliance professionals. This month, we examine:
•The SEC’s case against crypto firm Kraken is permitted to...more
9/25/2024
/ Collateralized Loan Obligations ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cybersecurity ,
Digital Assets ,
Instant Messaging Apps ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investment Contract ,
MNPI ,
Popular ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Registered Investment Advisors ,
Securities Act of 1933 ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Unregistered Securities