Columbia Law School
Sky Blog
Thank you for that introduction and for having me here today. At the Division of Enforcement, ensuring that broker-dealers and associated individuals follow our laws and regulations is critical to our mission, so it’s only fitting that my first speech
SEC
The Price of Your Vote: Proxy Choice and Securities Lending
On October 7, 2021, BlackRock announced that, beginning in 2022, institutional clients would have the opportunity to direct the voting of shares held by index funds. Some commentators heralded this change as “a catalyst for others in [the investment management] …
Sullivan & Cromwell Discusses SEC Proposal to Enhance Proxy Voting Disclosure by Investment Funds
On September 29, 2021, the SEC issued a proposed rulemaking to enhance the information mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and other registered management investment companies (“funds”) report annually about their proxy votes. The proposal also would require so-called “institutional investment managers” …
Davis Polk Discusses SEC Enforcement Action Against Alternative Data Provider
An enforcement action against an alternative data provider for misrepresenting its practices offers lessons both for trading firms that use alternative data and public companies that sell it.
On September 14, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced a settlement …
SEC Chair Gensler Testifies Before U.S. House Committee on Financial Services
Good afternoon, Chairwoman Waters, Ranking Member McHenry, and members of the Committee. I’m honored to appear before you today for the second time as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. As is customary, I will note that my views
SEC Chair Gensler Speaks on Proposal to Enhance Proxy Voting Disclosure
Good morning. This is an open meeting of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on September 29, 2021. I want to welcome members of the public who are listening in.
This is my first open meeting as Chair of this
Copycat Skills and Disclosure Costs
Despite the benefits of greater transparency, public disclosures may reveal proprietary information that ultimately harms the disclosing firm by allowing competitors to view and imitate its strategies, an activity known as “copycatting.” An SEC proposal in July 2020 to increase …
Arnold & Porter Discusses ESG, Disclosure, and Whistleblowing
On August 25, 2021, The Wall Street Journal reported that the SEC and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York are investigating greenwashing allegations made by the former head of sustainability of Deutsche Bank AG’s …
SEC Chair Speaks Before Small Business Capital Formation and Asset Management Advisory Committees
Thank you, Carla [Garrett]. It’s good to be with this Committee again. I’d like to thank the members for their time and willingness to represent the interests of America’s small businesses. As is customary, I’d like to note I’m not
Davis Polk Discusses SEC Request for Information on Digital Engagement by Broker-Dealers, Investment Advisers
In light of the growing popularity of digital investing platforms and increased scrutiny of these platforms by Congress, the SEC has released a broad request for information and public comment (RFI) on all matters related to the use of digital …
Mandatory Short Selling Disclosure Could Lead to Investor Herding Behavior
Commission-free trading apps like Robinhood and coordinated action by retail investors on Twitter, WallStreetBets, and other social media have created an unprecedented force on Wall Street that specifically targets short sellers. One result has been a massive run-up in the …
The Real Effects of Conflict Minerals Disclosures
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted the conflict minerals disclosure (CMD) rule, which requires issuers to perform due diligence on “conflict minerals” – natural resources known to fuel conflicts in underdeveloped nations – that …
SEC Chair Gensler Speaks on Alternative Reference Rates
It’s good to be with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee to discuss the transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). I’d like to thank the Committee, the New York Fed, and the Federal Reserve Board for putting this together.
Unicorniphobia
Once upon a time, a successful startup that reached a certain maturity would “go public” – selling securities to ordinary investors, perhaps listing on a national stock exchange, and taking on the privileges and obligations of a public company under …
The Jobs Act Did Not Raise IPO Underpricing
The JOBS Act was signed into law on April 5, 2012, with the objective of improving access to the public capital market for growth companies. Title I of the JOBS Act amended the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and …
SEC Chair Gensler Testifies Before Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Good morning, Chairman Brown, Ranking Member Toomey, and members of the Committee. I’m honored to appear before you today for the first time as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I’d like to thank you for your support in …
Whistleblowing Should Be Part of President Biden’s Fight Against Corruption
On June 3, 2021 President Joseph Biden issued a “Memorandum on Establishing the Fight Against Corruption as a Core United States National Security Interest,” (hereinafter “Anti-Corruption Memorandum” or “Memorandum”). In issuing the Memorandum, President Biden placed fighting corruption …
Disclosure Procedure
Each year, U.S. public companies spend millions of people-hours producing the securities disclosures that undergird public capital markets. But relatively little is known about how firms produce such consequential information, including whether they are spending too much, too little, or …
Gibson Dunn Offers 2021 Mid-Year Securities Litigation Update
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
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