AD Nauseam: The Best Podcast (Fact or Puffery?)
Law Brief®: The Theranos Trial
PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Trending Now: An IP Podcast - False and Misleading Advertising, Label Review
Deepfakes and Disinformation: The World of Manipulated Media
AFSA Extra Credit Podcast: Navigating Advertising During COVID-19
Podcast - Developments in FDA & DOJ Regulation and Enforcement of Manufacturer Communications
The Federal Trade Commission is taking a hard look at marketing and advertising statements, making sure they are precise and accurate. Here are some key takeaways from recent enforcements:...more
Yesterday, we posted about a decision in which P&G challenged claims that Rascals made about the absorption capabilities of its diapers. Rascals also advertised: “210,000+ 5-star reviews of Rascals Products.” P&G thought...more
The National Advertising Division (“NAD”) recently took Total Wireless, a prepaid brand under Verizon, to task for a TV commercial that blurred the lines between two separate offers, leaving consumers potentially confused....more
On October 22, 2024, Republican SEC Commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda issued a joint dissent sharply criticizing charges brought against four companies for allegedly making materially misleading disclosures regarding...more
FTC's Final Junk Fees Rule Narrowed in Scope - On December 17, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released its final Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, commonly known as the "Junk Fees Rule." This final rule has a...more
In the rapidly evolving world of social media marketing, content creators are an invaluable asset for brands seeking to reach a larger audience. Influencers effectively assist brands in showcasing brand values, gaining...more
Welcome to the latest edition of the Sustainability Spotlight, your place to keep up with all the ESG action – federal and state enforcement, shareholder proposals and litigation, and state attorney general actions. This...more
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
The following summarizes recent legal developments of note affecting the mutual fund/investment management industry. On October 21, 2024, the SEC Division of Examinations (“EXAMS”) published its annual Examination Priorities...more
As we approach 2025, we want to remind registrants about several new rules that will impact disclosure for the 2024 Form 10-K and 2025 proxy season, note the 2025 deadlines for filings with the Securities and Exchange...more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues to scrutinize adjustments to, and presentation of, non-GAAP financial measures. Recent SEC enforcement actions for allegedly improper and misleading use of...more
Washington-state based franchisees Greg and Gabriela Skistimas brought suit against Hotworx Franchising LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington alleging misleading and unfair practices related to...more
EU Listing Act package simplifies listing requirements and post-listing obligations. Targeted amendments to MAR remove disproportionate complexity but preserve investor protection....more
In a significant development for the investment management industry, a large adviser agreed to pay a hefty $17.5 million civil penalty to settle charges with the SEC over misleading statements about its Environmental, Social,...more
SEC Penalizes Director for Misleading D&O Questionnaire Response - The SEC recently brought an enforcement action against a director for causing violations of the proxy rules by failing to disclose a close personal...more
Who may be interested: Registered Investment Companies; Registered Investment Advisers; Broker Dealers; Compliance Officers; Boards of Directors - Quick Take: The SEC recently settled five separate enforcement proceedings...more
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in two cases concerning the pleading standard in securities fraud class actions....more
The U.S. Supreme Court has scheduled argument for November 6, 2024 in an important case involving risk-factor disclosures of public companies. At issue is whether a company’s risk disclosures can be treated as false or...more
Continuing its controversial and aggressive approaches to cybersecurity, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently charged four current and former public companies for purportedly “materially misleading...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) recently settled charges against James R. Craigie, a former CEO, Chairman and board member of Church & Dwight Co. Inc. (the “Company”), for violating proxy disclosure rules...more
Despite the recent disbandment of the SEC’s Climate & ESG Task Force, the SEC is continuing to pursue enforcement actions concerning environmental issues, including greenwashing. Notably, over the past several weeks, the SEC...more
The SEC on Oct. 22, 2024, announced charges against four companies for allegedly making materially misleading disclosures concerning the impact of cybersecurity incidents associated with the compromised SolarWinds' Orion...more
On October 22, 2024, the SEC charged two current reporting companies, Unisys Corp. and Check Point Software Technologies, and two former public companies, Mimecast Limited and Avaya Holdings Corp., with making materially...more
On October 16, 2024, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a significant update to its regulations governing negative option programs. This new “click to cancel” rule aims to make it easier for consumers to cancel a...more
On October 16, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission announced a final “click-to-cancel” rule that will require sellers to make it as easy for consumers to cancel their enrollment as it was to sign-up. Most of the final rule’s...more