OFAC amends the Cuban Assets Control Regulations to ease Cuban sanctions in response to President Obama’s policy changes announced on December 17, 2014. These revisions have major implications for the banking and financial...more
4/18/2016
/ Boeing ,
Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) ,
EU ,
General Licenses ,
Iran Sanctions ,
Myanmar ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
Sudan ,
Syria ,
United Nations
On April 4, 2016, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) announced the issuance of a whistleblower award of more than $10 million for original information that it said led to a major enforcement action over...more
In Omnicare, Inc. v. Laborers District Council Construction Industry Pension Fund, 135 S.Ct. 1318 (2015) (“Omnicare”), the Supreme Court pronounced the standard for determining whether a statement of opinion is actionable...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC or the Commission) filed a record 807 enforcement actions in fiscal year 2015, 52 more than it filed in 2014. It also set a record by obtaining approximately $4.2 billion in...more
The International Atomic Energy Agency certifies that Iran had complied with all nuclear-related requirements of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action leading to the end of United States sanctions against the country...more
Although the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations lifted a number of sanctions targeting Iran on January 16, 2016 (“Implementation Day”) in accordance with the terms of the recent Iran nuclear deal, the...more
On November 10, 2015, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit unanimously held in a published opinion that (i) the attorney-client privilege was not waived by appellants-taxpayers who shared a group of documents,...more
After almost two years of negotiations, the P5+1 and Iran reach a final comprehensive agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program, which will likely result in the gradual lifting of international and US sanctions by early next...more
8/4/2015
/ Cuba ,
Enforcement Actions ,
IAEA ,
Iran ,
Iran Sanctions ,
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) ,
Nuclear Weapons ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
P5+1 Nations ,
Sanctions ,
State Sponsors of Terrorism
After almost two years of negotiations, on July 14, 2015, the E3/EU+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) and Iran reached an agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program. The Joint...more
7/16/2015
/ Banking Sector ,
Energy Sector ,
Foreign Relations ,
IAEA ,
Inspections ,
Iran ,
Iran Sanctions ,
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) ,
Nuclear Power ,
P5+1 Nations ,
SDN List ,
Trade Relations
What are the prospects for business with Iran after the June 30 deadline to complete negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program? In exchange for limitations on Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons, the European Union...more
Recent enforcement actions by the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission have raised the profile of corruption in international sport and highlight unique FCPA compliance concerns. This note will explain...more
6/15/2015
/ BHP Billiton ,
Bribery ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corruption ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Football ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Indictments ,
Match Fixing ,
Olympics ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Soccer ,
Sports ,
World Cup
The Obama Administration’s recent loosening of trade restrictions on Cuba has the potential to open new opportunities for US businesses. However, there are several obstacles to be overcome before US companies may access...more
5/13/2015
/ Cuba ,
Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) ,
Economic Development ,
Entrepreneurs ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Export Controls ,
Exports ,
Imports ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Sanctions ,
Trade Relations
In this edition:
- US and EU continue targeting Russia for its activity in Ukraine
- Cuba-related regulatory reforms announced
- P5+1 and Iran reach framework agreement
- US enforcement actions:...more
4/23/2015
/ Commerzbank ,
Cuba ,
Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) ,
Drug Trafficking ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Iran ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
P5+1 Nations ,
Russia ,
Sanctions ,
Terrorist Threats ,
Ukraine
On April 1, 2015, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) filed its first enforcement action under Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and Exchange Act Rule...more
In its much-anticipated decision in Omnicare, Inc. v. Laborers District Council Construction Industry Pension Fund (“Omnicare”), No. 13-435 (Mar. 24, 2015), the United States Supreme Court held that an honestly-held statement...more
In a ruling on February 13, the FTC unconditionally approved the Zillow-Trulia merger after an intensive six-month antitrust review. Despite reported concerns “that the merger might concentrate too much power in one company,”...more
Fiscal year 2014 proved to be another eventful and record-breaking year for the Division of Enforcement (Enforcement Division) of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or the Commission). Indeed, the...more
In this issue:
- US and EU continue sanctions against Russia for its activity in Ukraine;
- US and EU sanctions against the Crimea region;
- US makes major change in Cuban relations;
- The EU...more
1/14/2015
/ Crimea ,
Cuba ,
Drug Trafficking ,
Enforcement Actions ,
EU ,
Foreign Relations ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
Sanctions ,
Syria ,
Trade Relations ,
Ukraine
Improper Gifts Alone, Without Cash Bribes, Serve as Basis for SEC’s Latest FCPA Enforcement Action -
Earlier this week, the SEC announced fines for two former defense contractor employees for FCPA violations relating...more
While not nearly as transformative and dramatic as the first half of 2013 and the early days of Chair Mary Jo White and Director of Enforcement Andrew Ceresney, the first six months of 2014 was just as busy and productive...more
In its long-awaited decision in Halliburton Co. v. Erica P. John Fund, Inc. (“Halliburton II”), the US Supreme Court upheld the validity of the fraud-on-the-market presumption set forth in Basic Inc. v. Levinson, 485 US 224...more
Earlier today, the Office of the Comptroller General in Brazil, Controladoria-Geral da União (“CGU”), issued a sweeping directive barring government officials from accepting offers to attend or participate in the upcoming...more
Marked by leadership changes, high-profile trials, and shifting priorities, 2013 was a turning point for the Enforcement Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”). While the results of...more
1/9/2014
/ Accounting Fraud ,
Auditors ,
Bribery ,
Broker-Dealer ,
China ,
Deferred Prosecution Agreements ,
Disclosure ,
Dodd-Frank ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FIRREA ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Injunctions ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Adviser ,
Mary Jo White ,
Municipal Securities Issuers ,
Neither Admit Nor Deny Settlements ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Whistleblowers
On May 24, 2013, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB” or the “Board”) announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Chinese securities regulators that would enable the PCAOB under...more
Late last week, a senior SEC lawyer encouraged the private equity and hedge fund communities to consider whether certain practices of private fund managers could subject these firms to SEC registration as broker-dealers....more