[WEBINAR] Annual Labor & Employment Update
On September 14, 2022, the SEC announced a settled administrative order, also dated September 14 (“Order”), imposing penalties, including a $100,000 fine, on a registered broker (the “Broker”) for failing to (1)...more
In This Issue. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) issued a Risk Alert about the scope and content of examinations OCIE plans to conduct of various...more
On April 14, 2020, the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals adopted the “face-of-the-award” rule for dealing with arbitrator errors in damage calculations under Section 11(a) of the FAA, affirming the district court’s refusal...more
On May 9, 2018, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") announced it charged a registered municipal advisor (the "MA Firm") and its owner (the "MA Owner") with defrauding their client, a Texas school district, in...more
On June 13, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accepted the settlement offers made by two firms and three executives charged with using deceptive business practices in dealing with five school districts. As...more
The SEC filed its first action against a municipal adviser for breach of fiduciary duty based on a provision amended by Dodd-Frank. The agency also continued to file insider trading actions in an administrative forum....more
On March 15, 2016, the SEC announced its first enforcement proceeding for breach of the fiduciary duty for municipal advisors created by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act. The SEC issued a cease and desist order alleging that...more
The Commission brought its first action based on Exchange Act Section 15B(c)(1) as amended by Section 275 of Dodd-Frank. Under that provision municipal advisors and their associated persons have a fiduciary duty to their...more
The SEC charged Kansas-based Central States Capital Markets, its CEO, and two employees for breaching their fiduciary duty by failing to disclose a conflict of interest to a municipal client. The case is the SEC’s first to...more
Regulatory Developments - MSRB Publishes Compliance Advisory for Municipal Advisors: On Nov. 12 the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) published its first municipal advisor compliance advisory, developed...more
Non-Enforcement - SEC Decides Against Mounting an Appeal in Koch Ruling - The July 2015 ruling by the D.C. Circuit Court in Koch v. SEC will apparently not be challenged by the SEC. The Court ruled in that...more
Below is a summary of recent investment management developments that affect registered investment companies, private equity funds, hedge funds, investment advisers, and others in the investment management industry. Schwab...more
Regulatory Developments: DOL Releases Transcripts of Fiduciary Standard Hearings - The Department of Labor (DOL) has released the transcripts of the hearings held by the agency in August on its proposed fiduciary...more
A second insider trading action was brought by the Commission against a senior banking official based on the same take-over for which he was previously charged — but a different securities trading account is at the center of...more
In This Issue: - SEC Proposes Changes to Reporting and Disclosure Obligations for Investment Companies and Advisers - SEC Charges Hedge Fund Executives and External Auditor for Improper Disclosure of Expense...more
Ninth Circuit Denies Rehearing of Northstar v. Schwab. On April 28, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied the petition of Schwab Investments’ (Schwab) for rehearing and rehearing en banc in the case of...more
Non-Enforcement Matters - SEC 2015 Rulemaking Geared to Asset Managers - Certain Personnel of Registered Municipal Advisers Will Be Subject to Qualification Exams - Rulemaking Completed for Reg A+, But Will It Matter? -...more
On November 3, 2014, the SEC announced settlements with thirteen different registered municipal securities dealers in connection with sales of non-investment grade bonds issued by Puerto Rico in 2014. The settlements...more
In this issue: - In preliminarily denying two exemption requests, the SEC takes a stand for market transparency in ETFs and upholds the arbitrage mechanism that allows market prices to closely track NAVs. -...more
The SEC last week approved new MSRB Rule G-44 implementing supervision and compliance requirements for municipal advisors. The MSRB touted the Rule as “its first dedicated rule for municipal advisors” under the Dodd-Frank...more
In This Issue: - Regulation: Long-Awaited Money Market Fund Rules Adopted - SEC Staff Offers Guidance Regarding Investment Advisers and Proxy Advisory Firms - SEC Staff Closes Loophole on BDC Asset...more
In July 2014, the SEC settled the previously reported proceeding involving Chariot Advisors, and its former owner, Elliott Shifman, concerning charges of violating and aiding and abetting the violation of Section 15(c) of the...more