From Paper to Digital: The California DMV's Leap Into Blockchain Technology — The Crypto Exchange Podcast
Nonprofit Quick Tip: State Filings in Washington and Oregon
Nonprofit Quick Tip: Nevada and Arizona Nonprofit Corporation Registration and Annual Filings
Navigating the Dual Track M&A/IPO– Part One
Trademark Series: Use-based trademark protection
Trademark Series: Building a global brand
The Ska / DuClaw Trademark Dispute Over EUPHORIA, Trademark Lessons for the Craft Brewer
New York Attorney General Letitia James provided additional guidance on recent Investor Protection Bureau (“IPB”) rule amendments intended to increase transparency into the investment adviser representatives and securities...more
If you are a securities industry participant seeking to engage in digital asset-related activities, it is time to develop and enhance your compliance practices, says a risk alert by the SEC’s Division of Examinations. ...more
We were recently reminded of how difficult it is to re-register for a position in the securities industry after being barred. See https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2021/ia-5682.pdf. On February 9, 2021, the United...more
In April 2020, the Investor Protection Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s office (OAG) announced its efforts to modernize the state’s securities laws. As part of this initiative, the OAG proposed the registration...more
Investment advisers registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or with a state (“Advisers”) as well as commodity pool operators (“CPOs”) and commodity trading advisors (“CTAs”) registered with the...more
The SEC has adopted final rules requiring investment advisers to provide additional information on Form ADV and other matters. The final rules: - require information about an investment adviser’s separately managed...more
Industry participants are well-advised to review their practices to ensure compliance with the Advisers Act, and the SEC’s and SEC’s Staff’s interpretations of when registration as a broker-dealer is required....more
Recently, the SEC approved FINRA’s proposed new Rule 3110(e) relating to background investigations of registered persons. FINRA Rule 3110(e), which replaces NASD Rule 3010(e) and goes into effect on July 1, 2015, streamlines...more
Regulatory Developments - SEC Proposes Changes to Exchange Act Registration Requirements to Implement JOBS Act Mandates - The SEC announced that it is proposing rule amendments under the Securities Exchange Act...more
The CFTC previously granted family offices no-action relief from registration as commodity pool operators. That letter did not provide an exemption from registration as a commodity trading advisor. However, the CFTC has...more
In June 2014, the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Securities Division amended the rules applicable to investment advisers in the state of Washington in Chapter 460-24A of the Washington Administrative...more
Ever since the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act required many investment advisers to private equity funds to register with the SEC for the first time, fund managers knew that additional scrutiny might...more
The SEC settled public administrative proceedings against TL Ventures Inc., a venture capital fund adviser (the “VC Fund Adviser”) and Penn Mezzanine Partners Management, L.P. (the “Private Fund Adviser” and with the VC Fund...more
The Commission brought its first pay-to-play action involving political campaign contributions under the Investment Advisers Act. The proceeding is predicated on the integration of two firms which claimed to be exempt from...more
The SEC charged a non-U.S. multi-national financial institution with a large U.S. presence with violating federal securities laws by providing brokerage and investment advisory services to U.S. clients without registering...more
The California Commissioner of Business Oversight (“Commissioner”) recently amended California’s custody rule 10 C.C.R. Section 260.237 (the “New Custody Rule”). The New Custody Rule will be effective on April 1, 2014....more
Another example of the Commission’s new and evolving ad hoc admissions policy emerged from the settlement of an administrative proceeding with Credit Suisse Group AG. In the Matter of Credit Suisse Group AG, File No. 3-15763...more
In this issue: - SEC Division of Corporation Finance Issues Guidance on Rule 506(c) Private Placements - SEC Issues No-action Relief Regarding Registration of M&A Brokers - CFTC Issues Guidance on New...more
The SEC’s Division of Investment Management provided advisers to venture capital funds with guidance on fund structures that do not jeopardize an adviser’s ability to rely on the exemption from registration provided by...more
An SEC-registered adviser (the “Adviser”) was granted exemptive relief pursuant to Rule 206(4)-5 (the “Rule”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) from the Rule’s two-year prohibition on receiving...more
The United States House of Representatives passed a bill on December 4, 2013, that would restore an exemption from registration to advisers of certain private equity funds that limit leverage, an attempt to undo another...more
The SEC’s Division of Investment Management has closed a potential loophole in the federal securities laws through which some fund advisers may have attempted to squeeze to avoid registration....more
Yesterday’s post discussed why proxy advisory firms are likely to meet the definition of “investment adviser” under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. I noted that some proxy advisory firms, such as ISS and Marco...more
Recently, I wrote about a shareholder proposal seeking to hold a proxy advisor popularity contest. I commented that this could raise some interesting compliance challenges for proxy advisory firms that are registered as...more
The SEC recently reminded non-U.S. broker-dealers and advisers with clients that relocate to the United States that they may be required to register under the U.S. securities laws. On July 31, 2013, the SEC sanctioned a...more