Capital Markets

  • August 09, 2024

    Gemini Seeks Quick 2nd Circ. Appeal In CFTC Fight

    Gemini Trust Co. has asked a New York federal judge for permission to quickly appeal to the Second Circuit a June ruling denying the Winklevoss-led crypto exchange a win in the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's lawsuit alleging Gemini illegally downplayed known risks of its proposed bitcoin futures contract.

  • August 09, 2024

    Biotech Firms Mull Acquisition Offers Amid Shaky IPO Climate

    Amid a shaky outlook for initial public offerings, more private biotechnology firms are exploring acquisition offers from larger pharmaceutical companies as a more certain exit strategy, according to experts who advise emerging drug developers.

  • August 09, 2024

    6th Circ. Partially Revives Crypto IRS Reporting Challenge

    The Sixth Circuit issued a mixed ruling Friday in a suit brought by a group of cryptocurrency users challenging the IRS' pending mandate to report large crypto transactions, reversing the dismissal of the suit's Fourth and First Amendment violation claims but affirming that some of the case's claims are not ripe.

  • August 09, 2024

    Healthcare-Focused SPAC Voyager Nets $220M IPO

    Shares of healthcare-focused Voyager Acquisition Corp. began trading publicly on Friday after the company priced its $220 million initial public offering.

  • August 09, 2024

    Lucid Narrows Securities Suit Over EV Production Targets

    A California federal judge has trimmed a suit alleging electric-vehicle startup Lucid Group Inc. misled investors about its production target, trimming the case down to four out of 30 statements the investors said were misleading.

  • August 09, 2024

    Virtu Financial Can't Cut Down SEC's Information Security Suit

    A Manhattan federal judge declined Friday to trim a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit over Virtu Financial Inc.'s protection of customer investment data, saying discovery is needed to determine whether the platform designed reasonable safeguards to wall this information off from its own in-house traders.

  • August 09, 2024

    CFTC's Proposed Election Trading Ban Garners Mixed Feedback

    The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has fielded a range of comments on its proposed rule to ban trading on the outcome of elections, with certain politicians and advocacy groups throwing their weight behind the measure and others accusing the agency of overstepping its authority.

  • August 09, 2024

    Frat House Ponzi Schemer Must Pay $65K In SEC Suit

    A University of Georgia graduate who ran a Ponzi scheme from his fraternity house and defrauded classmates must pay an additional $65,000 in judgment interest after already having paid more than $509,000 to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commision.

  • August 09, 2024

    Fla. Forex Trader Gets 24 Years For $57M Ponzi Scheme

    A purported foreign exchange trader has been hit with a 24-year prison sentence and a $57 million forfeiture order after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges in connection with a Ponzi scheme that took in over 1,100 would-be investors.

  • August 09, 2024

    Investor Can't Drop Fraud Suit Against Crowdfunding CEO

    A California cannabis investor cannot withdraw his lawsuit against a CEO he accused of helping to operate a $2 million crowdfunding scheme, a federal judge ruled, saying the investor now needs the defendant's permission.

  • August 09, 2024

    Rising Star: Wilson Sonsini's Lang Liu

    Lang Liu of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati PC has helped steer companies like DoorDash Inc. and Lyft Inc. to successful initial public offerings in the face of uncertain markets, earning her a spot among the capital market attorneys under age 40 honored by Law360 as Rising Stars.

  • August 08, 2024

    Investors, Banks Pitch Next Steps In Saved Bond-Rigging Suit

    Investors accusing major banks of conspiring to rig corporate bonds have told a New York federal court they want to file a new complaint after the Second Circuit revived the suit last month over a potential conflict with the previous judge, while the defendants say this would take the case "back to square one."

  • August 08, 2024

    SPAC Investors Can't Sue Lucid Over Merger, 9th Circ. Says

    The Ninth Circuit on Thursday refused to revive investors' proposed class action alleging that Lucid duped them into buying stock in a special purpose acquisition company ahead of the electric-vehicle maker's $11.75 billion merger, saying an acquiring company's investors can't sue the target company over its alleged misstatements before the merger.

  • August 08, 2024

    Uber's $200M Deal To End Investors' 'Train Wreck' IPO Suit OK'd

    A California federal judge granted preliminary approval Thursday to Uber's $200 million class action deal with investors who claim the ride-hailing giant made false and misleading statements ahead of its $8.1 billion initial public offering regarding its passenger safety record, financial condition and the legality of its business model.

  • August 08, 2024

    Video Game Co. Can't Beat All Of Investors' Fraud Claims

    Digital entertainment and e-commerce company Sea Ltd. can't fully defeat a pension fund's lawsuit alleging that the company misled the market to stop a free fall in its share price after a subsidiary lost publishing rights in Southeast Asia to the popular League of Legends video game, among other things.

  • August 08, 2024

    Fed Hits Customers Bank With Crypto-Related Consent Order

    The Federal Reserve said Thursday that it had entered into an enforcement action with Pennsylvania-based Customers Bank, pointing to risk management and anti-money laundering compliance deficiencies tied to the bank's "digital asset strategy."

  • August 08, 2024

    Mass. Atty, 2 Others Settle SEC Insider Trading Claims

    A Massachusetts business lawyer, his friend and his friend's father have agreed to collectively pay more than $230,000 to settle the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's allegations they used intel to trade ahead of an announcement made by the biotechnology company Frequency Therapeutics Inc., the SEC said Thursday.

  • August 08, 2024

    Fla. Judge Won't Pause E-Scooter Co.'s Ch. 11 Plan

    California plaintiffs with tort claims against Bird Global Inc. can't stop a Chapter 11 plan for the bankrupt e-bike and e-scooter rental company while they appeal its confirmation because of the plan's third-party releases, a Florida bankruptcy judge ruled Thursday.

  • August 08, 2024

    2nd Circ. Won't Rethink Decision On 'Short-Swing' Profits

    The Second Circuit won't reconsider its decision to revive a lawsuit against hedge fund Raging Capital Management LLC over claims that it improperly made $5 million in short-swing profits as a corporate insider of retailer 1-800-Flowers.

  • August 08, 2024

    Nasdaq Seeks To Step Up Delistings For Cheap, Risky Stocks

    Nasdaq is proposing to accelerate delisting procedures for companies whose shares fall below $1 for extended periods by tightening compliance deadlines and cracking down on those companies that seek to avoid delisting by enacting reverse stock splits, marking the exchange's latest effort to combat risky stocks.

  • August 08, 2024

    VC, PE Firm Says Chinese Co. Cost $150M SpaceX Investment

    A California-based venture capital and private equity firm has sued a Chinese company in California federal court, claiming Elon Musk's SpaceX rejected its planned $150 million investment after the Chinese company breached its promise to abide by strict confidentiality requirements and instead publicized its involvement in the planned investment.

  • August 08, 2024

    Deals Rumor Mill: Roche, Thoma Bravo, Klarna

    Roche is considering divesting cancer data specialist Flatiron Health, Thoma Bravo is exploring a sale of compliance software maker Cority, and fintech startup Klarna is preparing a secondary-share sale ahead of a planned IPO. Here, Law360 breaks down these and other notable deal rumors from the past week.

  • August 07, 2024

    FTX, Alameda Agree To Pay $12.7B To Resolve CFTC's Action

    A New York federal judge Wednesday signed off on a consent order requiring FTX Trading Ltd. and its affiliated trading firm to pay back $8.7 billion to those duped by disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and disgorge an additional $4 billion.

  • August 07, 2024

    Exec Unlikely To Get New Trial In SEC's 'Shadow Trading' Suit

    A California federal judge said at a hearing Wednesday that he wasn't inclined to grant a new trial in a novel SEC "shadow trading" case, saying "there's no question" that a former executive of Medivation, a pharmaceutical company, knew that he was using inside information from his company when he purchased a rival's stock.

  • August 07, 2024

    Blackstone Buys Majority Stake In Renewable-Focused Firm

    Blackstone Inc.-backed private equity funds have agreed to acquire a majority stake in renewable-energy focused engineering firm Westwood Professional Services Inc., under guidance from Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, marking Blackstone's latest bid to support energy transition, according to a Wednesday announcement. 

Expert Analysis

  • Lawyers Can Take Action To Honor The Voting Rights Act

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    As the Voting Rights Act reaches its 59th anniversary Tuesday, it must urgently be reinforced against recent efforts to dismantle voter protections, and lawyers can pitch in immediately by volunteering and taking on pro bono work to directly help safeguard the right to vote, says Anna Chu at We The Action.

  • Evolving Regulatory Oversight For AI And Asset Management

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    Attorneys at K&L Gates discuss the evolving regulatory and legislative landscape for artificial intelligence in the asset management industry, as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Congress consider how to address potential investor protection and systemic risks associated with AI.

  • Series

    A Day In The In-House Life: Block CLO Talks Problem-Solving

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    Amid the busy summer months, Block Inc. Chief Legal Officer Chrysty Esperanza chronicles a typical Wednesday where she conquered everything from unexpected fintech regulatory issues and team building to Bay Area commutes and school drop-off.

  • How To Grow Marketing, Biz Dev Teams In A Tight Market

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    Faced with fierce competition and rising operating costs, firms are feeling the pressure to build a well-oiled marketing and business development team that supports strategic priorities, but they’ll need to be flexible and creative given a tight talent market, says Ben Curle at Ambition.

  • Jarkesy's Impact On SEC Enforcement Will Be Modest

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    Though the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy decision found that fraud defendants have a constitutional right to a jury trial, the ruling will have muted impact on the agency’s enforcement because it’s already bringing most of its cases in federal court, say Jeremiah Williams and Alyssa Fixsen at Ropes & Gray.

  • Series

    Rock Climbing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Rock climbing requires problem-solving, focus, risk management and resilience, skills that are also invaluable assets in my role as a finance lawyer, says Mei Zhang at Haynes and Boone.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Dance The Legal Standard Two-Step

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    From rookie brief writers to Chief Justice John Roberts, lawyers should master the legal standard two-step — framing the governing standard at the outset, and clarifying why they meet that standard — which has benefits for both the drafter and reader, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Opinion

    After Jarkesy, IRS Must Course-Correct On Captive Insurance

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    The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy decision has profound implications for other agencies, including the IRS, which must stop ignoring due process and curtailing congressional intent in its policing of captive insurance arrangements, says Peter Dawson at the 831(b) Institute.

  • Dissecting Treasury's Call For Input On AI In Financial Sector

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    The U.S. Department of the Treasury's request for comments on the potential benefits and challenges AI may pose to the financial services sector, which asks how stakeholders are addressing and mitigating increased fraud risks, reflects the federal government's continued interest in AI's effects across the economy, say attorneys at Hogan Lovells.

  • Series

    Being A Luthier Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    When I’m not working as an appellate lawyer, I spend my spare time building guitars — a craft known as luthiery — which has helped to enhance the discipline, patience and resilience needed to write better briefs, says Rob Carty at Nichols Brar.

  • Lead Like 'Ted Lasso' By Embracing Cognitive Diversity

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    The Apple TV+ series “Ted Lasso” aptly illustrates how embracing cognitive diversity can be a winning strategy for teams, providing a useful lesson for law firms, which can benefit significantly from fresh, diverse perspectives and collaborative problem-solving, says Paul Manuele at PR Manuele Consulting.

  • 3 Areas Of Enforcement Risk Facing The EV Industry

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    Companies in the EV manufacturing ecosystem are experiencing a boom in business, but with this boom comes increased regulatory and enforcement risks, from the corruption issues that have historically pervaded the extractive sector to newer risks posed by artificial intelligence, say attorneys at MoFo.

  • Ambiguity Ruling Highlights Deference To Arbitral Process

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    A New York federal court’s recent ruling in Eletson v. Levona, which remanded an arbitral award for clarification, reflects that the ambiguity exception’s analysis is not static and may be applied even in cases where the award, when issued, was unambiguous, says arbitrator Myrna Barakat Friedman.

  • American Airlines ESG Ruling Could Alter ERISA Landscape

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    The Spence v. American Airlines ESG trial, speeding toward a conclusion in a Texas federal court, could foretell a dramatic expansion in ERISA liability, with plan sponsors vulnerable to claims that they didn't foresee short-term dips in stock prices, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.

  • Cyber Incident Response Checklist For SEC Compliance

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    In light of recent guidance from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which clarified the distinction between two types of cybersecurity incident disclosures, companies should align their materiality assessment, incident response and disclosure control processes to bolster compliance and provide a measure of protection, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.

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