On April 26, 2022, the Division of Examinations (the “Division”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a Risk Alert listing notable examples of deficiencies that its staff has identified regarding investment...more
On July 3, 2019, Chairman Jay Clayton of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a Statement Regarding Offers of Settlement (the “Public Statement”) to announce a significant shift in the SEC’s process of...more
8/8/2019
/ Bad Actors ,
Cease and Desist Orders ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Institutions ,
Investment Company Act of 1940 ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Statements ,
Rulemaking Process ,
SEC Commissioner ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Settlement Agreements ,
Settlement Negotiations
On Monday, June 5, 2017, a unanimous Supreme Court held that the ability of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to seek disgorgement in connection with a violation of federal securities law is subject to a...more
Shearman & Sterling’s bi-annual Trends & Patterns in FCPA Enforcement report provides insightful analysis of recent enforcement trends and patterns in the US, the UK and elsewhere, as well as helpful guidance on emerging best...more
1/4/2017
/ AstraZeneca ,
Bribery ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Declination ,
Deferred Prosecution Agreements ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Foreign Official ,
GlaxoSmithKline ,
Internal Controls ,
JPMorgan Chase ,
Novartis ,
Nu Skin ,
Odebrecht ,
Popular ,
Qualcomm ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Teva Pharmaceuticals ,
Voluntary Disclosure ,
Whistleblowers ,
Yates Memorandum
On August 9, 2016, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued Lucia v. SEC, a significant decision that holds that the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC” or...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC or the Commission) brought over 400 enforcement actions in the first half of 2016 and is on pace to surpass its record of 807 enforcements actions in a single fiscal year, which...more
7/20/2016
/ Administrative Proceedings ,
Books & Records ,
Broker-Dealer ,
Chief Compliance Officers ,
Cooperation ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Cybersecurity ,
Disgorgement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Statistics ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Adviser ,
Municipal Bonds ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Whistleblowers
On May 26, 2016, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued SEC v. Graham, a significant decision that, at least in the Eleventh Circuit, limits the ability of the Securities and...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC or the Commission) filed a record 807 enforcement actions in fiscal year 2015, 52 more than it filed in 2014. It also set a record by obtaining approximately $4.2 billion in...more
Recent enforcement actions by the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission have raised the profile of corruption in international sport and highlight unique FCPA compliance concerns. This note will explain...more
6/15/2015
/ BHP Billiton ,
Bribery ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corruption ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Football ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Indictments ,
Match Fixing ,
Olympics ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Soccer ,
Sports ,
World Cup
On April 1, 2015, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) filed its first enforcement action under Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and Exchange Act Rule...more
Fiscal year 2014 proved to be another eventful and record-breaking year for the Division of Enforcement (Enforcement Division) of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or the Commission). Indeed, the...more
Improper Gifts Alone, Without Cash Bribes, Serve as Basis for SEC’s Latest FCPA Enforcement Action -
Earlier this week, the SEC announced fines for two former defense contractor employees for FCPA violations relating...more
Last week the SEC settled charges against Layne Christensen for various violations of the FCPA. While a relatively unremarkable case at first glance, the SEC’s charges against Layne Christensen reflect a troubling approach by...more
While not nearly as transformative and dramatic as the first half of 2013 and the early days of Chair Mary Jo White and Director of Enforcement Andrew Ceresney, the first six months of 2014 was just as busy and productive...more
Marked by leadership changes, high-profile trials, and shifting priorities, 2013 was a turning point for the Enforcement Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”). While the results of...more
1/9/2014
/ Accounting Fraud ,
Auditors ,
Bribery ,
Broker-Dealer ,
China ,
Deferred Prosecution Agreements ,
Disclosure ,
Dodd-Frank ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FIRREA ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Injunctions ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Adviser ,
Mary Jo White ,
Municipal Securities Issuers ,
Neither Admit Nor Deny Settlements ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Whistleblowers
On February 27, 2013, the Supreme Court issued its much-anticipated decision in Gabelli v. SEC, unanimously rejecting the SEC’s view that government agencies can bring enforcement actions seeking civil penalties for...more