Securities

  • December 18, 2024

    Pharma Trial Consultant To Pay SEC $3M Over Insider Trading

    An oncologist and clinical professor at the University of California, Irvine agreed to pay the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission $3 million to resolve allegations he purchased shares in a Massachusetts biotech company based on insider information regarding a clinical trial he was overseeing, the SEC announced Wednesday.

  • December 18, 2024

    Ex-US Rep. Urges 2nd Circ. To Nix Insider Trading Conviction

    Former Indiana Rep. Stephen Buyer on Wednesday urged the Second Circuit to reverse his insider trading conviction or grant him a new trial, saying federal prosecutors violated his Sixth Amendment rights and failed to prove Manhattan was the right place to be tried, which led a pair of circuit judges to voice doubt about the court's standard for establishing venue.

  • December 18, 2024

    Split 9th Circ. Backs 46-Month Prison Term For Stock Pumper

    A divided Ninth Circuit on Wednesday affirmed a 46-month sentence for a Canadian man convicted of securities fraud in a pump-and-dump scheme involving a cannabis and gaming company, rejecting his argument that the lower court erred by calculating "intended loss" to enhance his sentence, since circuit precedent recognizes both actual and intended losses.

  • December 18, 2024

    Charles Schwab Says Ex-Employee Stole Client Info

    Charles Schwab has filed a suit in Texas federal court accusing a former employee of misappropriating confidential trade secrets and client information to solicit business once he joined a competitor.

  • December 18, 2024

    OCC Orders 'Comprehensive' Remedial Action For USAA Bank

    The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on Wednesday hit USAA Federal Savings Bank with curbs on new product additions and membership growth as part of a fresh consent order that follows prior enforcement actions against the military-focused bank.

  • December 18, 2024

    BiT Global Loses Bid To Block Coinbase Delisting In $1B Suit

    A California federal judge on Wednesday refused BiT Global's request for a temporary restraining order to block Coinbase from delisting a "wrapped" bitcoin product created by BiT Global for trading on decentralized exchanges, saying the digital asset company's evidence of "irreparable harm" in its $1 billion litigation was "mostly speculative."

  • December 18, 2024

    Vaxart Investors Win Class Cert. Over COVID Shot On 2nd Try

    A California federal judge has certified a class of Vaxart investors accusing the biotechnology company's onetime controlling shareholder of dumping stock at inflated prices following deceptive headlines about a COVID-19 vaccine, saying the investors' revised motion fixes issues of predominance and the damages model.

  • December 18, 2024

    FDIC Moves Closer To Suing Ex-Brass Of Silicon Valley Bank

    Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. leaders have given a green light for the agency to potentially sue former top brass of Silicon Valley Bank for alleged mismanagement of the bank that led to its collapse last year.

  • December 18, 2024

    NFL Union Rips DraftKings' Dismissal Try In Licensing Suit

    The NFL Players Association this week bashed DraftKings Inc.'s attempt to toss claims in a lawsuit alleging the sports betting giant failed to make good on a licensing agreement related to nonfungible tokens, calling DraftKings' motion an attempt to twist the "plain language" of the agreement.

  • December 18, 2024

    Divided SEC Approves PCAOB's $400M Budget

    The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board will receive the nearly $400 million it requested to fund its operations in 2025, despite the objections of Republican members of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday who expressed concern about the auditing watchdog's growing budget.

  • December 18, 2024

    EY Accused Of Aiding Energy Firm's SPAC Fraud

    Big Four accounting firm EY faces a suit alleging that its "unqualified" audit opinions for a United Arab Emirates-based oil storage leasing company enabled the company to defraud investors in its $1 billion 2019 merger with a special purpose acquisition company.

  • December 18, 2024

    Insurance Co. Buyer Accuses Seller Of Fraud In Chancery Suit

    Alleging a "textbook case of fraud in the inducement and breach of fiduciary duty," a holding company that acquired Georgia-based Southern Trust Insurance Co. has sued the seller's principals, associates and their company in Delaware's Court of Chancery.

  • December 18, 2024

    The Biggest 1st Circ. Rulings Of 2024

    The nation's smallest federal circuit court in 2024 issued an opinion tackling the government of Mexico's efforts to hold U.S. firearms makers responsible for the flow of illegal arms across the southern border, determining the claims are not barred by a litigation shield, among other high-profile decisions.

  • December 17, 2024

    GOP Hill Leaders Pledge To Prioritize Crypto Bills Next Year

    Lawmakers told crypto industry participants Tuesday that they plan to keep digital assets top of mind in the coming legislative session by prioritizing bills on a regulatory structure for stablecoins and digital asset markets, as well as digging into allegations bank regulators have unfairly targeted crypto businesses.

  • December 17, 2024

    BDO Asks 2nd Circ. To Rethink AmTrust Investor Suit Ruling

    Auditing firm BDO USA LLP has asked the full Second Circuit to review an earlier decision that allowed a lawsuit brought by AmTrust Financial Services Inc. investors to move forward on claims that the auditor did a poor job reviewing the insurer's financial statements.

  • December 17, 2024

    CORRECTED: Ineligible Calif. Securities Atty Accused Of Tax Crimes

    A Southern California securities attorney currently ineligible to practice law has gone over five years without filing any personal federal income tax returns, the U.S. Department of Justice alleged in announcing a recently unsealed indictment against the lawyer on Tuesday.

  • December 17, 2024

    Del. Justices Won't Revive Investors' $2.4B EV SPAC Deal Suit

    The Delaware Supreme Court has declined to reinstate a proposed class action in the state's Chancery Court that accused a blank-check company of withholding key information from investors ahead of its $2.4 billion go-public deal with electric-vehicle maker Canoo Holdings Ltd.

  • December 17, 2024

    TelexFree Victims Seek Class Cert. Over Ponzi Losses

    Victims of the multibillion-dollar TelexFree Ponzi scheme have asked a federal judge to certify their class in their suit against the litigation's remaining defendants, including TelexFree insiders and Wells Fargo, arguing that cases arising from Ponzi schemes are the "very archetypes for class treatment."

  • December 17, 2024

    Broker, AML Chief Settle SEC Suspicious Activity Claims

    Broker-dealer SogoTrade Inc. and its former anti-money laundering compliance officer on Tuesday agreed to pay fines, and other terms, to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges that they repeatedly failed to investigate suspicious customer activity or file related reports.

  • December 17, 2024

    SEC, CFTC Members Eye Crypto Coordination Under Trump

    Republican commissioners at the federal securities and futures regulators told crypto industry participants on Tuesday that they will urge their agencies to collaborate more closely on providing regulatory relief and clarity in the new year as they wait for lawmakers to get long-awaited crypto legislation across the finish line.

  • December 17, 2024

    Alcohol Co. Sued Over Biz Hangover After COVID Lockdowns

    Alcoholic beverage manufacturer MGP Ingredients Inc. has been hit with a proposed investor class action alleging the company misled the public about the continued success of its business following its exponential growth during the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns.

  • December 17, 2024

    SEC Says Express Didn't Disclose $1M In Ex-CEO Perks

    Express Inc. failed to disclose nearly $1 million worth of perks and personal benefits to former CEO Tim Baxter, according to a settlement released Tuesday by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which declined to levy a civil penalty against the fashion retailer in light of its cooperation and remediation.

  • December 17, 2024

    Hunton Adds Ex-Flagstar Atty To NYC Office

    Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP announced on Tuesday it has hired ex-Flagstar Bank senior vice president and associate general counsel Ian W. Sterling for its New York City office as a special counsel who specializes in structured finance and securitization.

  • December 17, 2024

    Drug Co. Investor Sues In Del. Over $140M Insider Windfall

    A pension fund investor in Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings Inc. has sued Bain Capital Investors LLC and other alleged insiders of the company in Delaware's Court of Chancery, accusing them of lining up a secondary offering in the biopharmaceutical venture before disclosure of its planned sale to AbbVie.

  • December 17, 2024

    Asset Manager Gets 2½ Years For Role In $1.2B PDVSA Scheme

    A Florida federal judge on Tuesday sentenced an asset manager who pled guilty to participating in a $1.2 billion scheme to embezzle money from Venezuela's state-owned oil company to 2½ years in prison.

Expert Analysis

  • With Precautions, AI Can Help With Suspicious Activity Filings

    Author Photo

    While artificial intelligence can enhance suspicious activity report processes, financial services firms should review applicable expectations and areas of deficiencies that can lead to enforcement actions before using AI to help write SARs, say attorneys at Jenner.

  • How Crypto Cos. Can Take Advantage Of 'Mini-IPOs'

    Author Photo

    Against the backdrop of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement in the crypto space, mini-initial public offerings, with less burdensome requirements than full registration, can serve as an alternative way for token issuers to raise funds, say attorneys at O'Melveny.

  • Nvidia Supreme Court Case May Not Make Big Splash

    Author Photo

    The skeptical tenor of the justices' questioning at oral argument in Nvidia v. Ohman Fonder suggests that the case is unlikely to alter the motion to dismiss pleading standard in securities class actions, as some had feared, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Series

    Circus Arts Make Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Performing circus arts has strengthened my ability to be more thoughtful, confident and grounded, all of which has enhanced my legal practice and allowed me to serve clients in a more meaningful way, says Bailey McGowan at Stinson.

  • How D&O Coverage Can Aid Against Increased AI Scrutiny

    Author Photo

    The recent increase in regulatory enforcement and securities class actions stemming from corporate use of artificial intelligence should prompt companies to ensure that their directors and officers liability insurance coverage is appropriately tailored to AI-related risks, say attorneys at Reed Smith.

  • Crypto Cos. Add New Play In Their Offense Against SEC

    Author Photo

    Consensys and Crypto.com have adopted a novel strategy of preempting U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement actions by moving to crypto-friendly Texas and filing declaratory lawsuits challenging the SEC's jurisdiction to regulate crypto-assets — an aggressive approach that may pay off, say attorneys at Herrick Feinstein.

  • 3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less

    Author Photo

    Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.

  • How To Safely Leverage AI In The Digital Assets Industry

    Author Photo

    Digital asset businesses that use or plan to implement artificial intelligence should assess their risk management frameworks to ensure that AI-related business areas, including customer support and fraud detection, are in compliance with applicable laws and regulatory guidance from the last year, say attorneys at Winston & Strawn.

  • $3B TD Bank AML Settlement Is A Wake-Up Call For All Banks

    Author Photo

    TD Bank’s historic settlement over anti-money laundering violations, resulting in over $3 billion in penalties, reminds banks of all shapes and sizes why they need to take financial crime compliance seriously, and highlights three areas that may be especially vulnerable to enforcement, says Jack Harrington at Bradley Arant.

  • What Trump Presidency May Mean For Climate Reporting

    Author Photo

    While the Trump administration will likely take a hands-off approach to climate-related disclosures and rescind regulations promulgated under the Biden administration, state and international ESG laws mean the private sector may not reverse course on such disclosures, say attorneys at Seyfarth.

  • SEC Action Indicates Continued Focus On ESG Disclosures

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recently settled enforcement action against Invesco Advisers provides a road map for how regulatory agencies will continue to focus on ESG-related disclosures going forward, and underscores a focus on greenwashing, say attorneys at V&E.

  • The Bar Needs More Clarity On The Discovery Objection Rule

    Author Photo

    Almost 10 years after Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34 was amended, attorneys still seem confused about what they should include in objections to discovery requests, and until the rules committee provides additional clarity, practitioners must beware the steep costs of noncompliance, says Tristan Ellis at Shanies Law Office.

  • The AI Consumer Class Action Threat Is Not A Hallucination

    Author Photo

    As regulators scrutinize whether businesses can deliver on claims about their artificial intelligence products and services, the industry faces a wave of consumer fraud class actions — but AI companies can protect themselves by prioritizing fundamental best practices that are often overlooked, say Ronald Levine at Herrick Feinstein and Richard Torrenzano at the Torrenzano Group.

  • What's Next For The CFTC After The Election

    Author Photo

    While much of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's enforcement actions in line with its traditional priorities will continue as usual in the near term, postelection leadership changes at the CFTC and new congressional priorities may alter the commission's regulatory framework in 2025 and beyond — particularly its oversight of crypto, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Del. Dispatch: Clarifying Charter Amendment Vote Obligations

    Author Photo

    The Delaware Court of Chancery recently held in Gunderson v. The Trade Desk that only a majority stockholder vote is needed to approve a company's proposed reincorporation from Delaware to Nevada through a corporate conversion, which bodes well for other companies also considering leaving the First State, say attorneys at Fried Frank.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Securities archive.
Hello! I'm Law360's automated support bot.

How can I help you today?

For example, you can type:
  • I forgot my password
  • I took a free trial but didn't get a verification email
  • How do I sign up for a newsletter?
Ask a question!