Securities

  • May 05, 2025

    Colo. Pastor Claims No Ill Intent In Alleged Crypto Scheme

    A Colorado pastor accused of inducing $3.4 million in investments into a worthless cryptocurrency and pocketing more than a third of those investor funds told a state court Monday that the project didn't go as planned, but he and his wife had "no intent to evade the law."

  • May 05, 2025

    5 Firms Pilot Pershing Square's $900M Howard Hughes Deal

    Hedge fund Pershing Square will grow its ownership stake in Howard Hughes Holdings and expand the company's business lines beyond real estate development in a $900 million deal put together by five law firms, the companies said Monday.

  • May 05, 2025

    Umpqua Bank Class Seeks Approval Of $55M Ponzi Suit Deal

    A class of Umpqua Bank investors has asked a California federal judge to give the initial OK to a $55 million settlement to end a suit alleging the bank helped execute a $300 million Ponzi scheme led by a since-deceased real estate investment manager.

  • May 02, 2025

    Smith & Wesson Says Catholic Investors' Suit Misfires

    Firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson Brands Inc. slammed as mere "social activism" an investor lawsuit filed by groups of Catholic sisters seeking to curb company sales and marketing of AR-15-style rifles that are sometimes used in mass shootings, urging a Nevada federal judge to dismiss the suit and the claims that it violated a fiduciary duty.

  • May 02, 2025

    Head Of 'Mother Teresa' Ponzi Scheme Owes SEC $4.1M

    A self-styled "Mother Teresa" serving a 20-year prison sentence for wire fraud conspiracy in a $194.1 million Ponzi scheme is liable for $4.1 million in connection with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission fraud claims, though that debt is satisfied by the $186 million forfeiture order in her federal criminal case, a Florida federal judge has determined.

  • May 02, 2025

    Dems Urge Fed To Rethink $35B Capital One-Discover Deal

    Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., have formally petitioned the Federal Reserve to pause and revisit its approval of Capital One's $35 billion acquisition of Discover, saying the central bank's analysis of the transaction had glaring gaps that make its conclusion legally unsustainable.

  • May 02, 2025

    11th Circ. Urged To Revive Fla. Suit Over Car Co. Buybacks

    An investor urged the Eleventh Circuit on Friday to revive his claim that the CEO of a Florida company that develops navigation technology for self-driving cars improperly made nearly $24 million from share buybacks, saying his "indirect pecuniary" interest in the transaction precludes him from profits under federal law.

  • May 02, 2025

    Dick's Sporting Goods Execs Sued Over Post-COVID Issues

    The top brass of Dick's Sporting Goods was hit with a shareholder derivative suit Friday alleging that the company failed to disclose excess inventory and increased shrinkage or theft following the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused Dick's stock price to drop by more than 24% once the truth was revealed.

  • May 02, 2025

    Texas-Led AGs Defend BlackRock Coal Investments Suit

    A coalition of Republican states led by Texas are arguing that BlackRock Inc.'s public commitments to reducing its carbon footprint are evidence that it and two other leading asset managers teamed up to suppress the production of coal in the United States, asking a federal judge not to dismiss their case against the firms.

  • May 02, 2025

    'Smart' Glass Maker Settles SPAC Merger Suit For $11M

    "Smart" glass manufacturer View Inc. and investors have reached an $11 million deal to resolve a proposed class action over an internal probe the company announced following its go-public merger with a special purpose acquisition company.

  • May 02, 2025

    More Crypto Easing For Banks Is 'Critical,' Trade Groups Say

    A coalition of Wall Street trade groups urged the executive branch to continue removing "barriers" limiting financial institutions from engaging with digital assets in a joint letter calling for uniform risk-management expectations over processes that require firms to clear their crypto activities with banking regulators ahead of time.

  • May 02, 2025

    Ex-SCWorx CEO Seeks Sentencing Delay Over Restitution Row

    The former chief executive of SCWorx Corp. who was convicted of securities fraud after publicizing a $670 million COVID-19 test kit contract that never materialized told a New Jersey federal court Friday that he's seeking a one-month delay in his sentencing, citing the government's statement that it would pursue more than $140 million in restitution.

  • May 02, 2025

    Money Laundering, Tax Charges Nixed Vs. Crypto Operator

    An Indiana federal judge dismissed the U.S. government's cases against a man accused of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, laundering proceeds through cryptocurrency transactions and failing to file tax returns after finding his business was not subject to registration requirements, as the government had maintained.

  • May 02, 2025

    Trade War Spurs Companies To Freshen Disclosure Playbooks

    Against the backdrop of a protracted trade war that has rattled investors, companies are honing their securities filings and public communications strategies, posing fresh challenges for corporations and their lawyers, who are otherwise accustomed to navigating global disruptions.

  • May 02, 2025

    Auto Services Co. Top Brass Sued Over Biz Integration Issues

    The top brass of Driven Brands Holdings Inc., the largest automotive services company in North America, has been hit with a shareholder derivative suit for allegedly failing to disclose integration issues the company faced after acquiring small business segments, which caused Driven's stock price to drop when the truth was revealed.

  • May 02, 2025

    Sidley Adds 10 A&O Shearman Attys In DC, NY, Singapore

    Sidley Austin LLP has hired 10 attorneys from Allen Overy Shearman Sterling in New York, Washington, D.C., and Singapore, including the U.S. leader of the firm's financial services regulatory group.

  • May 02, 2025

    DC Circ. Seems Unconvinced That Proxy Firms 'Solicit'

    An industry group's bid to revive a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rule regulating proxy advisory firms seemed to meet a skeptical D.C. Circuit panel on Friday, as the judges questioned whether those firms "solicit" proxy votes.

  • May 02, 2025

    Frank Execs Trade Blame In Dueling Bids For New Trial

    Frank founder Charlie Javice and former executive Olivier Amar each requested new trials on charges alleging they tricked JPMorgan Chase & Co. into buying the student aid assistance startup for $175 million, with Javice asserting that her co-defendant acted as a second prosecutor and Amar saying he was unfairly lumped into what the government called a criminal scheme.

  • May 01, 2025

    NY Judge Says He May Nix $110M Mango Markets Fraud Verdict

    A Manhattan federal judge on Thursday suggested that he may grant all or part of a crypto trader's motion for acquittal or a new trial over allegations that he defrauded Mango Markets investors out of $110 million by manipulating the price of the exchange's native token, in a ruling that would likely center on issues involving mixed swaps or venue.

  • May 01, 2025

    FTC, Nevada Accuse Trading Training Biz Of $1.2B Scam

    The Federal Trade Commission and Nevada on Thursday filed suit in federal court against an investment training company they alleged scammed more than $1.2 billion out of consumers, mostly young adults, by selling trading courses taught by "bogus" instructors and encouraging consumers to participate in a multi-level marketing scheme.

  • May 01, 2025

    Claims Against Attys In $2.6B Casino Merger Row Get Tossed

    A Manhattan federal judge on Thursday permanently ended claims a real estate investor in a botched $2.6 billion Philippine casino deal brought against attorneys from Sadis & Goldberg LLP, finding that claims that they allowed a fraud to unfold and breached their fiduciary duties were too vague.

  • May 01, 2025

    Death Bond Fund Manager Inflated Asset Values, Suit Says

    An Illinois fund that invests in life insurance policies has been hit with securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and several other claims in a suit seeking at least $50 million that alleges it manipulated the value of illiquid assets to collect inflated fees from investors.

  • May 01, 2025

    2 Firms To Co-Lead Block Investor Suit Over Cash App

    Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC and Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP will represent a proposed class of investors in a suit alleging Jack Dorsey's fintech company Block Inc. created a "haven for criminal and illicit activities" on its Cash App and Square payment platforms despite touting its anti-money laundering protocols.

  • May 01, 2025

    SEC Drops Case Against Crypto Promoter Ian Balina

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission moved Thursday to drop its suit over cryptocurrency influencer Ian Balina's alleged promotion of so-called SPRK tokens, about a month after Balina's attorneys said the federal regulator planned to walk away from the case.

  • May 01, 2025

    FINRA Fines Interactive Brokers Over Complaint Reporting

    The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority announced online broker-dealer Interactive Brokers LLC will pay $400,0000 to settle claims it failed to report regulatory complaints and customer grievances regarding the functionality of its virtual platform to FINRA over an 11-year period.

Expert Analysis

  • Recent Cases Highlight Latest AI-Related Civil Litigation Risks

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    Ongoing lawsuits in federal district courts reveal potential risks that companies using artificial intelligence may face from civil litigants, including health insurance coverage cases involving contractual and equitable claims, and myriad cases concerning securities disclosure claims, say attorneys at Katten.

  • What Rodney Hood's OCC Stint Could Mean For Banking

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    Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney Hood's time at the helm of the OCC, while temporary, is likely to feature clarity for financial institutions navigating regulations, the development of fintech innovation, and clearer expectations for counsel advising on related matters, say attorneys at Vedder Price.

  • Opinion

    We Must Allow Judges To Use Their Independent Judgment

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    As two recent cases show, the ability of judges to access their independent judgment crucially enables courts to exercise the discretion needed to reach the right outcome based on the unique facts within the law, says John Siffert at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.

  • 4 Actions For Cos. As SEC Rebrands Cyber Enforcement Units

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    As the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission signals its changing enforcement priorities by retooling a Biden-era crypto-asset and cybersecurity enforcement unit into a task force against artificial-intelligence-powered hacks and online investing fraud, financial institutions and technology companies should adapt by considering four key points, say attorneys at Troutman.

  • New SEC Guidance May Change How Investors, Cos. Talk

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent updates to the Schedules 13D and G compliance and disclosure interpretations may mean large institutional investors substantially curtail the feedback they provide companies about their voting intentions in connection with shareholder meetings, which could result in negative voting outcomes for companies, say attorneys at Cleary.

  • 4 Key Payments Trends For White Collar Attys

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    As the payments landscape continues to innovate and the new administration looks to expand the role of digital currency in the American economy, white collar practitioners should be aware of several key issues in this space, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • Series

    Performing Stand-Up Comedy Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Whether I’m delivering a punchline on stage or a closing argument in court, balancing stand-up comedy performances and my legal career has demonstrated that the keys to success in both endeavors include reading the room, landing the right timing and making an impact, says attorney Rebecca Palmer.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From SEC To BigLaw

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    As I adjusted to the multifaceted workflow of a BigLaw firm after leaving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, working side by side with new colleagues on complex matters proved the fastest way to build a deep rapport and demonstrate my value, says Jennifer Lee at Jenner & Block.

  • What's Old And New In The CFTC's Self-Reporting Advisory

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    Attorneys at Blank Rome analyze the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's recent advisory that aims to provide clarity on self-reporting violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, and review whether market participants should shift their thinking — or not — when it comes to cooperation with the CFTC.

  • How Trump's Crypto Embrace Is Spurring Enforcement Reset

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent willingness to step away from ongoing enforcement investigations and actions underscores the changing regulatory landscape for crypto under the new administration, which now appears committed to working with stakeholders to develop a clearer regulatory framework, say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.

  • Making The Case For Rest In The Legal Profession

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    For too long, a culture of overwork has plagued the legal profession, but research shows that attorneys need rest to perform optimally and sustainably, so legal organizations and individuals must implement strategies that allow for restoration, says Marissa Alert at MDA Wellness, Carol Ross-Burnett at CRB Global, and Denise Robinson at The Still Center.

  • During Financial Regulatory Uncertainty, Slow Down And Wait

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    Amid the upheaval at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the slowdown in activity at the prudential agencies, banks must exercise patience before adopting strategic and tactical plans, as well as closely monitor legal and regulatory developments concerning all the federal financial regulators, say attorneys at Dorsey.

  • Opinion

    It's Time To Fix The SEC's Pay-To-Play Rule

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    Nearly 15 years after its adoption, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's pay-to-play rule is not working as intended — a notion recently echoed by SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce — and the commission should reconsider the strict liability standard, raise the campaign contribution limits and remove the look-back provision, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • 4 Ways Women Attorneys Can Build A Legal Legacy

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    This Women’s History Month, women attorneys should consider what small, day-to-day actions they can take to help leave a lasting impact for future generations, even if it means mentoring one person or taking 10 minutes to make a plan, says Jackie Prester, a former shareholder at Baker Donelson.

  • Why A Rare SEC Dismissal May Not Reflect A New Approach

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    While the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's pending dismissal of its case against Silver Point is remarkable to the extent that it reflects a novel repudiation of a decision made during the prior commission, a deeper look suggests it may not represent a shift in policy approach, say attorneys at Weil.

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