[WEBINAR] Annual Labor & Employment Update
SEC to Charter Schools: Avoid these risks when you engage your financing team - If you’ve financed a school facility – or you’re thinking about it – the SEC is watching (out for) you and the financing team you hire. They’ve...more
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
Summary - The Security and Exchange Commission last month released a Risk Alert to notify municipal advisors of key compliance issues. The SEC’s Division of Examinations adds client disclosure concerns to the list of most...more
Commercial banks and other financial institutions (“lender” or “lenders”) have historically provided financing to both governmental entities and nonprofits on a tax-exempt basis through loans and direct purchases of municipal...more
Municipal advisors, as well as other regulated entities, should be aware of their general obligations under Federal securities laws and MSRB Rules when formulating advice about securities or products, in particular if it...more
FINRA held its bi-annual Cybersecurity Conference in January and recently published five take-away real-world experiences from the conference...more
ethikos 34, no. 2 (February 2020) - In January, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced its 2020 examination priorities, published annually “to enhance the transparency of its examination program and to...more
The 2020 Examination Priorities of the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission were announced on January 7, 2020, and cover eight broad topics: - Protection...more
The Situation: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations ("OCIE") issued its 2020 examination priorities ("Exam Priorities"). The Result: The Exam Priorities...more
The Exam Priorities of the SEC’s Office of Inspections and Compliance or OCIE, announced on January 7, 2020 (the “Exam Priorities”), should be a key area of focus for every investment advisor and investment company. The Exam...more
In response to the proliferation of direct placements of municipal securities with financial institutions over the past decade, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed a regulatory change to clarify the role...more
Financial institutions and their employees may be subject to the following federal pay-to-play rules: SEC Rule 206(4)-5 for investment advisers; CFTC Rule 23.451 for commodities-backed swap dealers; FINRA Rule 2030 for...more
Recently, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) noted in its quarterly compliance newsletter dated June 8, 2018 that it has “compliance concerns” regarding issuer-solicited charitable donations. The MSRB’s...more
On June 29, 2018 Judge Halil Suleyman Ozerden of the Southern District of Mississippi entered judgments against Malachi Financial Products, Inc., and its president and sole shareholder, Porter B. Bingham, for alleged...more
On February 7, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) released its 2018 examination priorities. This year’s priorities comprise five principal areas: (1)...more
This year’s examination priorities of the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) were announced on February 6, 2018, and cover five broad, albeit...more
On February 15, 2018, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”) published Notice 2018-03, requesting comment on draft frequently asked questions and proposed responses (“FAQs”). The draft FAQs address duties of...more
On January 8 and February 7, 2018, respectively, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)...more
On February 7, 2018, the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) published its 2018 examination priorities. OCIE’s examination priorities are...more
The SEC charged registered municipal advisor Malachi Financial Products, Inc. and its principal Porter B. Bingham with violations of Sections 15B(a)(5) and 15B(c)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and...more
Regulation FD prohibits public companies from disclosing material nonpublic information to designated classes of persons such as securities professionals and holders of the issuer’s securities without, in most cases,...more
On September 12, 2016, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”) began offering the Municipal Advisor Representative Qualification Examination (the “Series 50 Exam”). Municipal advisor professionals must pass the...more
Last week, the MSRB issued “guidance” on the application of Rule G-42 conduct standards for Municipal Advisors in conduit issues. The “guidance” highlights ambiguities from the “for or on behalf” language in the MA Rule when...more
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a suit by the Tennessee, Georgia and New York Republican parties challenging the constitutionality of an MSRB extending pay-to-play prohibition to municipal advisors. The Court...more
On September 19, 2016, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board ("MSRB") advised Congress that it had "just concluded development of a core regulatory framework for municipal advisors." This by no means signals a significant...more