CFTC Adopts Long-Awaited Rule on Swap Execution Facilities (SEFs) and Other Swaps Trading Rules

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), on May 16, 2013, took long-awaited action to approve four separate rules and guidance.  The rulemakings, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act) concern:

• Core …

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Editor's Tweet: Latham discusses CFTC Adoption of Long-Awaited Rule on Swap Execution Facilities (SEFs) and Other Swaps Trading Rules

Sullivan & Cromwell on Dodd-Frank Stress Tests

[In May], the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) issued summary instructions for the 2013 company-run, mid-year stress tests required by Section 165(i)(2)(A) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”). Under …

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Editor's Tweet: Sullivan & Cromwell on Dodd-Frank Stress Tests

SEC Proposes Cross-Border Security-Based Swap Rules

On May 1, 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission took long-awaited action to propose rules governing cross-border activities in security-based swaps. The SEC’s proposal, developed over the course of more than two years, reflects a holistic approach that differs in …

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Editor's Tweet: Annette Nazareth discusses the SEC's Proposed Cross-Border Security-Based Swap Rules

Taking Gatekeeping Seriously: Financial Product Approval as a Form of Systemic Risk Regulation

One of the key lessons of the recent financial crisis, and the greatest challenge facing post-crisis regulatory reforms, is the need to control and reduce systemic risk associated with financial innovation, complexity, and the growing interconnectedness of global financial markets. …

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Editor's Tweet: UNC Professor Saule Omarova discusses Financial Product Approval as a Form of Systemic Risk Regulation

Sullivan & Cromwell discusses Foreign Banks and the Swap-Push Out Rule

Federal Reserve Issues Rule to Classify Uninsured U.S. Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banks as Insured Depository Institutions for Purposes of the Swaps Push-out Provision of the Dodd-Frank Act and Explain the Process for Obtaining Transition Period Relief

On June

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Editor's Tweet: Sullivan & Cromwell discusses Foreign Banks and the Swap-Push Out Rule http://wp.me/p2Xx5U-144

Morrison and Foerster Summarizes the Status of Dodd-Frank as it approaches three years

If Aesop were still in the fable-writing business, and he had been watching the last three years of Dodd-Frank Act rulemaking, we would probably be reading the Snail and the Tortoise to our kids. In this issue of Dodd-Frank at …

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Editor's Tweet: Morrison and Foerster Summarizes the Status of Dodd-Frank as it approaches three years

Shearman & Sterling Discusses how the FSOC’s Annual Report Suggests Potential Paths Forward

The recently issued annual report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (“FSOC” or “Council”) indicates that the members continue to review the major unfinished business of financial regulatory reform and ramp up the process by which they determine where to …

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Editor's Tweet: Shearman & Sterling Discusses how the FSOC’s Annual Report Suggests Potential Paths Forward

Financial Services in 2013 and Beyond: Adapting to the New Regulatory Climate

The following comes to us from Charles M. Horn, a partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP. 

The enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act,” or “Dodd-Frank”) in 2010 was a watershed moment in the …

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Editor's Tweet: Financial Services in 2013 and Beyond: Adapting to the New Regulatory Climate http://wp.me/p2Xx5U-Y3

Approaching Deadline for Nasdaq-Listed Companies to Implement New Compensation Committee Standards

As annual meeting season approaches, so too does the first deadline for companies listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (Nasdaq) to comply with amended compensation committee rules. Traditionally, evaluation of director independence of Nasdaq-listed companies differed for purposes of serving …

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Editor's Tweet: Arnold & Porter Discusses Approaching Deadline for Nasdaq-Listed Companies to Implement New Compensation Committee Standards

Europe’s OTC Derivatives Regulation: An Overview of the New Framework

The “European Market Infrastructure Regulation,” known as EMIR, was adopted on July 4, 2012, as the Regulation on OTC Derivatives, Central Counterparties and Trade Repositories (EU 648/2012), and took effect in all EU Member States on August 16, 2012. As …

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Editor's Tweet: Europe's OTC Derivatives Regulation: An Overview of the New Framework http://wp.me/p2Xx5U-T4

Shareholder Activism and Ethics: Are Shareholder Bonuses Incentives or Bribes?

This is the heyday of institutional investor activism in proxy contests.  Insurgents are running more slates and targeting larger companies.  They are also enjoying a higher rate of success:  66% of proxy contexts this year have been at least partially …

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Editor's Tweet: Professor John C. Coffee Jr. of Columbia Law School discusses whether bonuses from shareholder activists are incentives or bribes?

Irredeemably Inefficient Acts: A Threat to Markets, Firms, and the Fisc

My forthcoming article, Irredeemably Inefficient Acts: A Threat to Markets, Firms, and the Fisc, identifies a category of acts that clearly and inevitably reduce social welfare.  These acts—which I call irredeemably inefficient—have not been expressly recognized in previous …

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Editor's Tweet: Professor Alex Raskolnikov of Columbia Law School discusses his new paper on Irredeemably Inefficient Acts.

Sullivan & Cromwell discusses the CFTC’s final rules on the Inter-Affiliate Swap Clearing Exemption

On April 1, 2013, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) voted four to one to adopt final rules implementing an exemption from the mandatory clearing requirement (the “Clearing Mandate”) under section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended …

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Editor's Tweet: Sullivan & Cromwell discusses the CFTC's final rules on the Inter-Affiliate Swap Clearing Exemption:

Dodd-Frank’s Missed Opportunity on Whistleblower Law

One of the highest-profile provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act is Section 922. That provision provides protection and monetary awards for whistleblowers. To qualify, the whistleblower must provide information to the Securities and Exchange Commission that leads to the recovery of …

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Editor's Tweet: Professor Anthony J. Casey of University of Chicago Law School discusses Dodd-Frank’s Missed Opportunity on Whistleblower Law

How much does management influence shareholder votes?

In the paper, “Management Influence on Investors: Evidence from Shareholder Votes on the Frequency of Say on Pay”, which was recently made publicly available on SSRN, my co-author (David Oesch of the University of St. Gallen) and I …

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Editor's Tweet: Professor Fabrizio Ferri of Columbia Business School discusses how much management influences the frequency of Say on Pay votes?