Securities

  • August 02, 2024

    Industry Backs Commonwealth's Appeal Of SEC's $93M Win

    The Financial Services Institute is calling on the First Circuit to overturn the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's $93 million victory against member firm Commonwealth Financial Network, arguing the lower court's disgorgement analysis undermines a U.S. Supreme Court decision and leaves other investment advisers fearing "outsized" enforcement actions.

  • August 02, 2024

    Judge OKs Conn. Furniture Company's $615K Stock Suit Deal

    A Connecticut federal judge has given a preliminary nod to a $615,000 settlement between The Lovesac Co., a Connecticut-based furniture maker, and a group of investors angry over financial moves that they say caused the company's stock to slip.

  • August 02, 2024

    Investors Say Water Vending Co. Ran $100M Ponzi Scheme

    A group of investors alleges that a Washington water-vending machine company bilked them out of more than $100 million in a Ponzi scheme by promising double-digit returns from a growing franchisee network serving Family Dollar stores and other locations.

  • August 02, 2024

    Wells Fargo's AML, Sanctions Programs Facing Investigation

    Wells Fargo & Co. has said it is facing scrutiny from "government authorities" over issues with its anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance programs, further noting it is in talks with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to settle an investigation into its investment account cash sweep offerings.

  • August 02, 2024

    Corporate Battles Thrust Activist Investing Into The Spotlight

    Disney and Starbucks are among the big-name corporations that have recently gone toe to toe with activist investors, spotlighting an upswing in activist demands against U.S. companies in the first half of the year. 

  • August 02, 2024

    Adviser Wants Fraud Settlement Nixed, Says Fla. Broke Deal

    A retirement financial adviser is urging a Florida state court to overturn a settlement with the state's Office of Financial Regulation in an unregistered-securities lawsuit, saying the agency breached the confidential agreement by disclosing why a receiver demanded nearly $800,000 in clawbacks over alleged fraudulent transfers.

  • August 02, 2024

    Feds Want 30 Years For Bitcoin Fog Crypto Mixer Operator

    Federal prosecutors asked a Washington, D.C., federal judge to sentence the convicted operator of the Bitcoin Fog crypto mixing service to 30 years and impose a $100,000 fine given he allegedly knowingly profited from a privacy service that "catered to criminals."

  • August 02, 2024

    Auto Parts Co. To Pay $2.9M To End 401(k) Class Action

    Auto parts manufacturer Magna International agreed to pay $2.9 million to end a class action alleging it cost employees millions of dollars in retirement savings because it failed to remove flawed investment options from its retirement plan, workers told a Michigan federal court.

  • August 02, 2024

    Ex-Dropbox Exec Says JPMorgan Can't Block Arbitration

    A billionaire co-founder of the file sharing platform Dropbox has asked a California federal court to declare that he can take a JPMorgan wealth management unit to arbitration for more than $225 million in damages he says he suffered at the hands of an investment adviser who previously worked for units of First Republic Bank that JPMorgan acquired last year.

  • August 02, 2024

    SDNY Brass Looks To Future After String Of Courthouse Wins

    A series of high-profile convictions won by federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York shows the office is pursuing justice for a diverse community without regard for politics, its senior leaders told Law360, adding they intend to continue on that path.

  • August 02, 2024

    Five Below Hit With Investor Suit Over Growth Potential

    Discount retail chain Five Below has been sued by investors claiming its executives misled investors about the growth potential of its stores, causing stock prices to tumble.

  • August 02, 2024

    SEC Narrows Its Rulemaking Focus As Election Looms

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's aggressive rulemaking spree is showing signs of dwindling as November elections loom, although several proposals could be primed for autumn votes if regulators wish to tackle hot-button topics.

  • August 02, 2024

    Judge Snuffs Out Collectibles Exec's Bid For New Fraud Trial

    A New York federal judge has spurned the efforts of a collectibles entrepreneur convicted of fraud to get a new trial, saying notes the defendant believes would have swayed the outcome are not as important as he thinks and probably inadmissible.

  • August 02, 2024

    Steptoe Finance Chair Joins Morgan Lewis In Chicago

    The chair of Steptoe LLP's financial services practice has joined Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP's Chicago office as a partner, the firm said Thursday.

  • August 02, 2024

    Rising Star: Cooley's Brett De Jarnette

    Brett De Jarnette of Cooley LLP's unusual move of netting a dismissal of a stock drop claim during the class certification phase of a securities case, as well as the wide variety of industries he's worked in, from the biotechnology to commerce to social media, has earned him a spot among the securities law practitioners under age 40 honored by Law360 as Rising Stars.

  • August 02, 2024

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    This past week in London has seen insurance broker Marsh sue the collapsed Greensill Bank, the former chair of the Islamic Students Association of Britain pursue a defamation case against the Jewish Chronicle, Berkshire Hathaway and Lloyd's face action from a shipping company, and alleged fraudster Ronald Bauer hit a loan company with a claim. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • August 01, 2024

    More 'Equitable' Banking? This Ex-Biden Official Has A Plan

    A former Biden U.S. Treasury Department official on Thursday outlined a progressive policy agenda that could provide a road map for bank regulators in the next administration, saying there's more that can and should be done to make the banking system stronger and fairer.

  • August 01, 2024

    GPB Capital Execs Convicted Of Fraud For $1.8B Scheme

    A New York federal jury on Thursday convicted former GPB Capital executives of wire and securities fraud charges stemming from allegations they ran the private equity fund like a $1.8 billion Ponzi scheme, according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice.

  • August 01, 2024

    Sidley Launches New San Diego Office With Five Partners

    Sidley Austin LLP has opened a new office in San Diego, with five partners specializing in a range of areas including mergers and acquisition, venture capital and global finance, marking the global law firm's fifth office in the Golden State, the firm announced Thursday.

  • August 01, 2024

    SEC Wants Win In Suit Over Ex-Morgan Stanley Rep's Scam

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has asked a North Carolina federal judge for a win in a lawsuit against an ex-Morgan Stanley representative serving time for running a $4.8 million Ponzi scheme, arguing summary judgment is proper given the seven-year prison sentence and penalties issued against the defendant in the parallel criminal case.

  • August 01, 2024

    DOJ Unveils Whistleblower Pilot, But Garners Atty Criticism

    The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday officially launched its pilot program to reward whistleblowers who alert prosecutors to significant corporate misconduct, although some whistleblower attorneys decried the program's award caps and what they described as its lack of enforceability.

  • August 01, 2024

    BNY's Pershing Hit With $1.4M FINRA Recordkeeping Fine

    BNY subsidiary Pershing will pay the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority a $1.4 million fine to resolve claims that it misstated interest rates for variable rate securities on millions of account statements for more than 12 years.

  • August 01, 2024

    Montenegro Court Affirms Kwon's Extradition To South Korea

    Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon is set to face criminal charges over the crypto project's collapse in South Korea after the Appellate Court of Montenegro on Thursday upheld a lower court's decision to refuse an extradition request from the U.S.

  • August 01, 2024

    Grayscale Wants Rival's $2M Conn. Trade Practices Suit Nixed

    Grayscale Investments LLC has asked a Connecticut state court judge to toss a suit launched by asset management firm Osprey Funds LLC, alleging that Grayscale falsely advertised its services in order to lure investors, saying the amended complaint fails to state a claim and, therefore, must be "stricken in its entirety."

  • August 01, 2024

    Crypto-Forex Co. Defaults In Fla. Civil Fraud Lawsuits

    A purported foreign exchange currency broker based in Hong Kong defaulted Thursday in three Florida state court lawsuits alleging multimillion-dollar frauds due to lack of counsel, although a Miami judge allowed the former CEO to respond to the complaints against him as a self-represented party.

Expert Analysis

  • Opinion

    High Court Should Settle Circuit Split On Risk Disclosures

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    The U.S. Supreme Court should grant the petition for writ of certiorari in the Facebook case to resolve a growing circuit split concerning when risk disclosures can be misleading under federal securities laws, and its decision should align with the intent of Congress and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, says Richard Zelichov at DLA Piper.

  • For Lawyers, Pessimism Should Be A Job Skill, Not A Life Skill

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    A pessimistic mindset allows attorneys to be effective advocates for their clients, but it can come with serious costs for their personal well-being, so it’s crucial to exercise strategies that produce flexible optimism and connect lawyers with their core values, says Krista Larson at Stinson.

  • Bankruptcy Courts' Role In Shaping Crypto's Legal Framework

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    Massive financial and criminal liability has led to the recent collapse of major cryptocurrency companies and put bankruptcy courts in the spotlight, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive regulatory framework, say Tara Pakrouh and Eric Monzo at Morris James.

  • Private Capital Considerations Amid Market Revival

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    As improved market conditions position traditional financing to regain lost market share, it's also worth considering the pace and structure of private credit and other forms of private capital, especially when seeking to set unique terms or build new corporate relationships, say attorneys at Skadden.

  • Trump's NY Civil Fraud Trial Spotlights Long-Criticized Law

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    A New York court’s recent decision holding former President Donald Trump liable for fraud brought old criticisms of the state law used against him back into the limelight — including its strikingly broad scope and its major departures from the traditional elements of common law fraud, say Mark Kelley and Lois Ahn at MoloLamken.

  • Intent-Based Theory Of Liability In Hwang Creates Ambiguity

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    A case against Archegos Capital founder Bill Hwang alleging that he participated in a securities manipulation scheme, which goes to trial next month in New York federal court, highlights the need for courts to clarify the legal standard defining "market manipulation," says Edward Imperatore at MoFo.

  • Opinion

    Requiring Leave To File Amicus Briefs Is A Bad Idea

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    A proposal to amend the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure that would require parties to get court permission before filing federal amicus briefs would eliminate the long-standing practice of consent filing and thereby make the process less open and democratic, says Lawrence Ebner at the Atlantic Legal Foundation and DRI Center.

  • 4 Ways To Motivate Junior Attorneys To Bring Their Best

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    As Gen Z and younger millennial attorneys increasingly express dissatisfaction with their work and head for the exits, the lawyers who manage them must understand and attend to their needs and priorities to boost engagement and increase retention, says Stacey Schwartz at Katten.

  • A Look At Recent Challenges To SEC's Settlement 'Gag Rule'

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    Though they have been unsuccessful so far, opponents of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's so-called gag rule, which prevents defendants from denying allegations when settling with the SEC, are becoming increasingly vocal and filing more challenges in recent years, say Mike Blankenship and Regina Maze at Winston & Strawn.

  • How American Airlines ESG Case Could Alter ERISA Liability

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    Spence v. American Airlines, a Texas federal case over the airline's selection of multiple investment funds in its retirement plan, threatens to upend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act's legal framework for fiduciary liability in the name of curtailing environmental, social and governance-related activities, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.

  • Defense Attys Must Prep For Imminent AI Crime Enforcement

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    Given recent statements by U.S. Department of Justice officials, white collar practitioners should expect to encounter artificial intelligence in federal criminal enforcement in the near term, even in pending cases, say Jarrod Schaeffer and Scott Glicksman at Abell Eskew.

  • Tipsters May Be Key To Financial Regulators' ESG Efforts

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are looking to whistleblowers to assist their climate and ESG task forces, suggesting insider information could be central to the agencies' enforcement efforts against corporate greenwashing, false investment claims and climate disclosure violations, says John Crutchlow at Youman & Caputo.

  • 5 Takeaways From SAP's Foreign Bribery Resolutions

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    German software company SAP’s recent settlements with the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, resolving allegations of foreign bribery, provide insights into government enforcement priorities, and how corporations should structure their compliance programs to reduce liability, say attorneys at Perkins Coie.

  • Series

    Serving As A Sheriff's Deputy Made Me A Better Lawyer

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    Skills developed during my work as a reserve deputy — where there was a need to always be prepared, decisive and articulate — transferred to my practice as an intellectual property litigator, and my experience taught me that clients often appreciate and relate to the desire to participate in extracurricular activities, says Michael Friedland at Friedland Cianfrani.

  • Fears About The End Of Chevron Deference Are Overblown

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    While some are concerned about repercussions if the U.S. Supreme Court brings an end to Chevron deference in the Loper and Relentless cases this term, agencies and attorneys would survive just fine under the doctrines that have already begun to replace it, say Daniel Wolff and Henry Leung at Crowell & Moring.

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