Securities Regulation

Gibson Dunn Offers 2021 Mid-Year Securities Litigation Update

By Monica K. Loseman, Craig Varnen, Jefferson E. Bell, Rachel N. Jackson and Alisha Siqueira September 13, 2021 by renholding

The torrid pace of new securities class action filings over the last several years slowed a bit in the first half of 2021, a period in which there have been many notable developments in securities law.  This mid-year update briefs …

SEC Chair Gensler Speaks Before Investor Advisory Committee

By Gary Gensler September 10, 2021 by renholding

Thank you for the kind introduction. I’d like to note that my views are my own, and I’m not speaking on behalf of my fellow Commissioners or the staff.

I’m glad to participate in my second meeting of the Investor

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The Impact of SEC Case Backlog on Investigations

By Samuel Bonsall, Eric Holzman and Brian Miller September 9, 2021 by renholding

In recent years, the number of enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has declined significantly, which has led to questions about the SEC’s effectiveness. While several potential explanations exist for this decline, SEC officials have often pointed …

The Strategic Use of Form 13F Restatements by Hedge Funds

By Sean Cao, Zhi Da, Daniel Jiang and Baozhong Yang September 7, 2021 by renholding

On July 10, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a proposal to increase the reporting threshold for Form 13F from $100 million to $3.5 billion. Form 13F was adopted in 1975 and required managers with more than $100 …

Debevoise & Plimpton on the Latest Round of SEC Cybersecurity Enforcement Actions

By Avi Gesser, James Pastore and Mengyi Xu September 7, 2021 by renholding

On August 30, 2021, the SEC filed settled enforcement actions against three groups of broker-dealers and investment advisers for failing to protect confidential customer information in violation of Rule 30(a) of Regulation S-P (the “Safeguards Rule” or “Rule”). One group …

SEC Chair Speaks Before European Parliament Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

By Gary Gensler September 2, 2021 by renholding

Thank you, Chair Tinagli and Members of the Committee. I’m honored to appear before this Committee for the fourth time, and for the first time as Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. As is customary, I’d like to

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Leading Law Firms Respond to Investment Company Act Lawsuits Targeting SPAC Industry

By Fifty-Eight Law Firms August 31, 2021 by renholding

Editor’s Note: A response to the statement below immediately follows this post.

Recently a purported shareholder of certain special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) initiated derivative lawsuits asserting that the SPACs are investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940, …

The Anti-SPAC Attack Claque

By William A. Birdthistle August 31, 2021 by renholding

A joint letter by 58 law firms is certainly a notable declaration, particularly when pulled together within a mere 10 days after litigation initiated by esteemed scholars. Observers might be tempted to wonder whether the motivation for such a quick …

Supreme Risk for FINRA and Other SROs

By Benjamin P. Edwards August 30, 2021 by renholding

Most efforts to manage systemic risk tend to focus on risks arising from within financial markets, from existing regulators, or from legislative misadventures. Yet self-regulatory organizations (SROs) and the markets that depend on their steady functioning now face an underappreciated …

The SEC, Digital Assets, and Game Theory

By Yuliya Guseva August 27, 2021 by renholding

Digital assets, cryptoassets, cryptocurrencies, and security-tokens have become ubiquitous. Yet approaches to regulating them differ around the globe. In the U.S., the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) has become a uniquely active crypto-regulator. In my recent article, …

Cleary Gottlieb Discusses Final Rules For UK-Listed SPACs

By Sebastian R. Sperber, Ferdisha Snagg, Mohamed Taha, Bree Morgan-Davies and Julian Cardona August 26, 2021 by renholding

On July 27, 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) published a policy statement that includes final rules amending the UK Listing Rules, and new associated guidance, applicable to special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”).[1] The new …

Sullivan & Cromwell Discusses SEC Case on Misleading Disclosure of Cybersecurity Incident

By Robert Downes, Nicole Friedlander, Anthony Lewis, Steve Peikin and Kamil Shields August 24, 2021 by renholding

On August 16, 2021, the SEC charged Pearson plc with misleading investors and failing to maintain adequate disclosure controls and procedures in connection with a cybersecurity incident. According to the SEC’s order, Pearson learned in March 2019 about an intrusion …

Wachtell Lipton Discusses a New Variation in SEC Insider Trading Enforcement

By John F. Savarese and Wayne M. Carlin August 23, 2021 by renholding

Earlier last week, the SEC filed a complaint in the Northern District of California alleging insider-trading charges that may signal a more aggressive approach to enforcement under the agency’s new leadership.  In SEC v. Panuwat, the SEC charged a …

Wachtell Lipton Discusses Latest SEC Enforcement Action over Cyber Breach

By John F. Savarese, Wayne M. Carlin and Sabastian V. Niles August 20, 2021 by renholding

In yet another important signal of the SEC’s increasing focus on how public companies respond to, and issue disclosures concerning, significant cyber breaches, the Commission announced yesterday that it had entered into a settled administrative order with Pearson plc, finding …

Paul Weiss Discusses SEC Focus on Crypto Enforcement

By Jessica S. Carey, Roberto J. Gonzalez, David S. Huntington and Carly Lagrotteria August 18, 2021 by renholding

At the Aspen Security Forum on August 2, 2021, SEC Chair Gary Gensler reaffirmed the SEC’s heightened focus on cryptocurrency. Following these comments, the SEC announced two enforcement resolutions that provide further guidance on the SEC’s approach to crypto enforcement. …

Democrats’ Gift-Wrapped Cloak of Secrecy for Wall Street

By Joshua Mitts August 11, 2021 by renholding

On July 29, 2021, the House Financial Services Committee voted to advance H.R. 4618, The Short Sale Transparency and Market Fairness Act, a well-intentioned bill with a misguided provision that was likely the product of hurried drafting.  The legislation …

SEC Commissioner Peirce on Nasdaq Board Diversity Proposal

By Hester M. Peirce August 9, 2021 by renholding

I write in opposition to the approval of the Board Diversity Proposal (“Board Diversity Proposal” or “Proposal”) submitted for approval by the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“the Exchange”).[1] The Proposal attempts to expand opportunity, a goal I share,[2]

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Private Equity, State Pension Plans, and the SEC

By William W. Clayton August 6, 2021 by renholding

The Securities and Exchange Commission under Chair Gary Gensler has been exploring transparency issues and other problems in the private equity industry and considering whether additional policy interventions are needed. One motivating factor is that public pension plans are the …

SEC Chair Gensler Discusses Crypto Regulation

By Gary Gensler August 4, 2021 by renholding

Some might wonder: What does the SEC have to do with crypto?

Further, why did an organization like the Aspen Security Forum ask me to speak about crypto’s intersection with national security?

As is customary, I’d like to note that …

Wachtell Lipton Discusses Mandatory Climate Change Disclosure Rules – A Preview From the SEC Chair?

By David M. Silk, Sabastian V. Niles and Carmen X.W. Lu August 3, 2021 by renholding

As noted in our previous memos, the SEC is considering and has sought input from investors on potential new disclosure requirements related to climate change and other sustainability issues.  Yesterday, SEC Chairman Gary Gensler made remarks that add some …