Capital Markets

  • August 26, 2024

    Zillow Investors Gain Class Cert. In Suit Over Home-Flipping

    A Washington federal judge has certified a proposed class of investors suing Zillow, alleging they were misled about the performance of the real estate marketplace's home-flipping program, and has appointed two firms as lead and local counsel.

  • August 26, 2024

    'Jarkesy 2.0': SEC Sees New Attack On In-House Courts

    A new lawsuit calling into question the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's ability to boot alleged lawbreakers from the securities industry follows a long line of attacks on the regulator's use of its in-house courts, including a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited the SEC's ability to litigate fraud cases via administrative proceedings.

  • August 26, 2024

    BNY To Pay $5M CFTC Fine Over Swap Reporting Issues

    The Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Bank of New York Mellon reached a $5 million deal on Monday to resolve claims that the bank repeatedly failed to correctly report millions of swap transactions to a registered swap data repository and failed to properly supervise its swap dealer business.

  • August 26, 2024

    US Trustee Raises Release Concerns With FTX Ch. 11 Plan

    The U.S. Trustee's Office has lodged an objection to FTX's Chapter 11 plan with 10 reasons why the proposed resolution for the mammoth crypto bankruptcy is flawed, including releases that are overbroad and don't carve out a high-profile data breach from their terms.

  • August 26, 2024

    Crypto Lender Abra Settles SEC's Unregistered Securities Suit

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced Monday that it's settled with the business entity behind crypto lending platform Abra over alleged failures to register its lending product.

  • August 26, 2024

    Semiconductor Co. Overstated Recovery, Investors Say

    Semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics did not have the visibility it claimed to have to predict future growth in its core segments, leading it to make several false representations to shareholders, according to two investor suits filed in New York federal court.

  • August 26, 2024

    Shkreli Must Give Up Copies Of Unique Wu-Tang Clan Album

    Martin Shkreli must hand over any copies he made of a one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album while a challenge from the crypto project that holds the sole physical copy plays out, a New York federal judge ordered Monday.

  • August 26, 2024

    JPMorgan Cash Sweep 'Shortchanged' Customers, Suit Says

    JPMorgan Chase has been hit with a proposed class action in New York federal court alleging its securities branch "shortchanged" customers by automatically "sweeping" their uninvested cash balances into deposit accounts at its affiliate, Chase Bank.

  • August 26, 2024

    Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

    Last week in Delaware's Court of Chancery, Boeing accused shareholders of using a new pressure tactic, Cantor Fitzgerald struck a $12 million deal, and a vice chancellor dealt with zombie companies. New cases involved displaced Pacific Islanders and an insurance customer acquisition platform. In case you missed it, here's a roundup of news from the Chancery Court.

  • August 23, 2024

    Kraken Must Face SEC's Crypto Case Over Platform Sales

    A California federal judge on Friday denied a bid by cryptocurrency exchange Kraken to ditch a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement suit, finding the regulator plausibly alleged that "at least some" of the digital currency transactions on Kraken's online platform constitute investment contracts.

  • August 23, 2024

    Justices Urged To Tackle Arbitral 'Manifest Disregard' Split

    A former Morgan Stanley financial adviser is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review an appellate panel's refusal to toss the bank's arbitral award and revive his $13.7 million counterclaims, arguing that the dispute presents the ideal vehicle to resolve the "clear" circuit split over whether "manifest disregard of the law" remains a valid ground for vacating such awards. 

  • August 23, 2024

    SEC Awards Nearly $100M To 2 Whistleblowers

    Two whistleblowers will receive more than $98 million for providing information the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission used to carry out an enforcement action, the agency said Friday.

  • August 23, 2024

    Crypto Founder Says SEC 'Twists' Claims To Make Suit Stick

    The cryptocurrency founder accused by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of misappropriating $12 million in customer assets from an alleged billion dollars in unregistered crypto securities offerings told a Brooklyn federal judge that the regulator "twists its timelines" to tie his conduct to the U.S.

  • August 23, 2024

    Ex-Exec Can't Reverse Medtronic Insider Trading Conviction

    A Minnesota federal judge on Friday declined to overturn fraud convictions against a former executive of a medical robotics firm, finding the insider tips he provided to a friend ahead of Medtronic's $1.6 billion acquisition of his company were not speculative.

  • August 23, 2024

    Hong Kong Relaxes Listing Rules For Tech Startups, SPACs

    Hoping to spur more investment into emerging businesses amid a dry spell, Hong Kong's securities watchdog and stock exchange leaders on Friday unveiled relaxed listing rules for technology startups and eased requirements needed to clear mergers involving special purpose acquisition companies.

  • August 23, 2024

    Split 9th Circ. Says Ponzi Schemes Don't Need Proof Of Intent

    A split Ninth Circuit panel affirmed Friday a jury's finding in a fraudulent-transfer fight that a now-bankrupt company was a Ponzi scheme, with the majority writing that jurors didn't need to find an intent to defraud, while a dissenting judge slammed the majority's reasoning as "circular."

  • August 23, 2024

    Conn. Adviser Wants FINRA Complaint Records Deleted

    An investment adviser has sued the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in Connecticut state court, saying a complaint on his FINRA registration record is not valid and should be removed because, after filing it, the customers who complained realized they were in error and withdrew the complaint.

  • August 23, 2024

    CFTC Says Gemini's Appeal Bid Wouldn't Nix Need For Trial

    The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has told a New York federal judge that even if the Second Circuit found crypto exchange Gemini Trust Co. didn't have ultimate responsibility over allegedly misleading statements about a proposed bitcoin futures contract, there would still be disputed facts requiring a trial.

  • August 23, 2024

    Cantor, Lutnick OK $12M Deal To End View Inc. Suit In Del.

    Cantor Fitzgerald LP and its billionaire Chair and CEO Howard Lutnick on Thursday agreed to a $12 million settlement to resolve stockholder challenges to a special purpose acquisition company transaction that took window company View Inc. public, with a Delaware Court of Chancery hearing set for Dec. 6.

  • August 23, 2024

    Canada Mining Biz Seeks US Listing Via $589M SPAC Merger

    Canadian rare-earth miner Tactical Resources Corp. plans to go public in the U.S. by merging with special purpose acquisition company Plum Acquisition III Corp. at an estimated value of $589 million, both parties announced on Friday, through a deal guided by four law firms.

  • August 23, 2024

    SPAC Investors Ask Full 9th Circ. To Rethink Lucid Merger

    Investors have urged the full Ninth Circuit to rethink a panel's refusal to revive their 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, arguing that the panel's holding misconstrues U.S. Supreme Court precedent, among other issues.

  • August 23, 2024

    Wachtell Reps As MLB's Braves Announce Executive Shakeup

    The parent company of the Atlanta Braves on Friday announced that Chairman and CEO Terry McGuirk will have increased voting power, representing a major shift in control after Liberty Media Corp. split off from the MLB team and its associated real estate development company in November 2022 to become a separate publicly traded entity.

  • August 23, 2024

    Polsinelli Brings On Ex-MoFo Venture Capital Atty In Denver

    Polsinelli PC has boosted its venture capital and emerging growth companies practice with a new shareholder in its Denver office.

  • August 22, 2024

    2 Biotech Firms File Plans To Go Public As IPO Pipeline Grows

    Drug developers Bicara Therapeutics Inc. and Zenas Biopharma Inc. filed plans with regulators on Thursday for initial public offerings that could tap the market as early as September, signaling a potential boost in post-Labor Day IPOs, under the combined guidance of three law firms.

  • August 22, 2024

    New SEC Rule Provides Break To Smaller Venture Funds

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has approved rules that would raise thresholds before certain venture capital funds can be regulated as investment companies, enacting a congressional mandate aimed at easing costs for small funds.

Expert Analysis

  • Loper Bright Limits Federal Agencies' Ability To Alter Course

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to dismantle Chevron deference also effectively overrules its 2005 decision in National Cable & Telecommunications Association v. Brand X, greatly diminishing agencies' ability to change regulatory course from one administration to the next, says Steven Gordon at Holland & Knight.

  • How 3 Recent High Court Rulings Could Shape Fintech Policy

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decisions in Jarkesy, Loper Bright and Corner Post provide fintech companies with new legal strategies to challenge regulatory actions, but agency reactions to these rulings and inconsistent judicial interpretations could bring compliance challenges and uncertainties, says Amy Whitsel at FS Vector.

  • 2nd Circ. Case Reinforces Need For Advance Notice Bylaws

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    The Second Circuit's recent decision in Nano Dimension v. Murchinson illustrates that Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act is a square peg for a round hole, and that advance notice bylaws are far better at protecting against undisclosed coordination among activist shareholders, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • Series

    Teaching Scuba Diving Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    As a master scuba instructor, I’ve learned how to prepare for the unexpected, overcome fears and practice patience, and each of these skills – among the many others I’ve developed – has profoundly enhanced my work as a lawyer, says Ron Raether at Troutman Pepper.

  • SolarWinds Ruling Offers Cyber Incident Response Takeaways

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    The New York federal court's dismissal of all charges related to the 2019 Sunburst cyberattack is a devastating blow to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's cybersecurity case against SolarWinds, but the well-reasoned opinion provides valuable lessons that may improve companies' defensive posture in the wake of a major cybersecurity incident, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.

  • 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.

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