When anyone discusses insider trading these days Newman invariably becomes a key topic. Prosecutors decry the decision and its tipping standard. Little doubt why. It has been offered as a defense in innumerable cases. A...more
The Commission filed another group of settled actions under its initiative regarding municipal bond underwriters. This time a group of fourteen actions were filed. Each centered largely on claims that the underwriter failed...more
2/5/2016
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Australia ,
Barclays ,
Bribery ,
Cease and Desist Orders ,
Credit Suisse ,
Dark Pool ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Goldman Sachs ,
Hong Kong ,
Insider Trading ,
Municipal Bonds ,
Offering Fraud ,
Section 17(a) ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Litigation
The Newman personal benefit test in insider trading tipping cases is front and center this week as the Supreme Court agreed to consider the issue. The Court passed on the opportunity to consider the question when first...more
1/22/2016
/ Capital One ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Insider Trading ,
Internal Controls ,
Investment Funds ,
PCAOB ,
Personal Benefit ,
SCOTUS ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Unregistered Securities ,
US v Salman
One of the most significant debates regarding insider trading in recent years centers on the personal benefit test adopted in U.S. v. Newman, 773 F. 3d 438 (2nd Cir. 2014) for tippee liability. The court in Newman held its...more
The SEC prevailed at trial, winning a jury verdict is an unusual insider trading case against a former Capital One Financial Corporation employee. SEC v. Huang, Civil Action No. 15-cv-269 (E.D. Pa. Filed Jan. 22, 2015)....more
The Commission resolved actions with SAC Capital founder Steven Cohen and the former Chairman of Dewey & Leboeuf in addition to filing settled actions against Goldman Sachs and State Street. The agency also filed another...more
The SEC filed another settled insider trading action, charging a corporate executive. The action is not remarkable and is straight forward. What makes it noteworthy, however, is that the case is the fourth insider trading...more
Steven Cohen settled his long running case with the SEC. In the Matter of Steven A. Cohen, Adm. Proc. File No. 3-15382 (January 8, 2016). In the settlement Mr. Cohen consented to the entry of an order which precludes him from...more
During the holiday period the SEC filed three insider trading cases as administrative proceeding. Three actions were brought involving major Wall Street banks; one centered on “parking” allegations involving Morgan Stanley...more
1/8/2016
/ Administrative Proceedings ,
Audits ,
Capital One ,
CFTC ,
Disgorgement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Hong Kong ,
Insider Trading ,
JPMorgan Chase ,
Market Manipulation ,
Offering Fraud ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The SEC began the year by filing a settled insider trading case. The action is largely unremarkable as insider trading cases go, although some might question if all the key elements of a claim are pleaded. The facts are...more
This was the period of admissions. The SEC secured admissions in three actions over the period with beginning the week of Thanksgiving and continuing into the beginning of December. Cases filed during the period include: A...more
12/4/2015
/ Admissions of Liability ,
Audits ,
Australia ,
Compliance ,
Conflicts of Interest ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Insider Trading ,
Offering Fraud ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Litigation ,
Spoofing ,
UK
When the Commission adopted its policy of requiring admissions to settle certain enforcement actions no bright line test was created. Rather, an array of facts were to be assessed on an individual, case-by-case basis....more
The DOJ reiterated its Yates policy this week under which cooperation credit is conditioned on furnishing the Department with the identity of individuals involved in corporate wrongdoing. Officials also noted that part of...more
A critical question in insider trading cases currently being brought is whether there are sufficient facts to comply with the Newman personal benefit test – at least if the case is in the Second Circuit. While in many...more
The SEC filed another “suspicious trading” insider trading action, naming as defendants two Chinese nationals. The action was brought just days after the second deal closed, permitting a freeze order to be entered over the...more
Conflicts and investment fund fraud cases were the focus this week. The SEC brought two actions in each category. In addition, a settled insider trading action was filed....more
11/6/2015
/ CFTC ,
Conflicts of Interest ,
Due Diligence ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Hong Kong ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Funds ,
Securities ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud ,
UK
The SEC filed an insider trading action in which the tipper partially settled the action. While the complaint alleged that the tippee knew of the breach of duty and that the information was gifted to him by his romantic...more
The SEC’s apparent preference for administrative proceedings as a venue for its enforcement actions continues to draw criticism. H.R. 3798 is now pending in the House of Representatives. The bill is tilted the “Due Process...more
10/30/2015
/ Administrative Authority ,
Administrative Hearings ,
Australia ,
Best Execution ,
Cease and Desist Orders ,
CFTC ,
Conflicts of Interest ,
Due Process ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Failure To Disclose ,
Fraud ,
Hong Kong ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Funds ,
JOBS Act ,
Mary Jo White ,
Misappropriation ,
Offering Fraud ,
Price Manipulation ,
Rating Agencies ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud
The scheme was perfect. Broker Vladimir Eydelman of Oppenheimer & Co. would place the trades; law school graduate Steven Metro, a clerk at Simpson Thatcher, would misappropriate the inside information; mortgage broker Frank...more
The Manhattan U.S. Attorney announced the filing of motions to dismiss the insider trading conviction of Michael Steinberg, formerly a portfolio manager at SAC Capitol, and six others in the wake of the Second Circuit’s...more
10/23/2015
/ Australia ,
CFTC ,
Discounts ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Statistics ,
Failure To Disclose ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Forum Selection ,
Insider Trading ,
Misappropriation ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
Offering Fraud ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The SEC prevailed on two summary judgment motions. One centered on a manipulation action. The other was against an attorney who facilitated a prime bank fraud.
The Commission also filed: An action against UBS tied to its...more
10/16/2015
/ Administrative Proceedings ,
Australia ,
Bank Fraud ,
Board of Directors ,
Broker-Dealer ,
Cease and Desist Orders ,
Corporate Governance ,
Crisis Management ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Disgorgement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fraud ,
Hong Kong ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ,
Investment Funds ,
Market Manipulation ,
Misappropriation ,
Misrepresentation ,
PCAOB ,
Penalties ,
Permanent Injunctions ,
Pump and Dump ,
Registered Investment Advisors ,
Risk Management ,
Securities Act of 1933 ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Exchange Act ,
Securities Fraud ,
Securities Litigation ,
Serious Fraud Office (SFO) ,
Shareholders ,
UK
The PCAOB filed a settled action involving an auditing firm in which the consent order of settlement was based on admissions of facts. The approach is similar to the one adopted by the SEC in which the Commission requires...more
10/9/2015
/ Accounting Fraud ,
Auditors ,
Bristol-Myers Squibb ,
Consent Order ,
Disclosure ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Insider Trading ,
Misrepresentation ,
PCAOB ,
Price Manipulation ,
Related Parties ,
Spoofing ,
UK ,
Whistleblowers
September 30th Madness dominated this week. The drive for stats was evident as the Commission stacked up cases like cord wood at a pace seldom seen. Twenty-two municipal bond actions were filed in one swoop; an insider...more
10/2/2015
/ Accounting Fraud ,
CFTC ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Statements ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Funds ,
Misappropriation ,
Municipal Bonds ,
Offering Fraud ,
PCAOB ,
Price Manipulation ,
Pyramid Schemes ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud ,
Self-Dealing ,
Whistleblower Awards
The SEC filed a settled insider trading case which names as defendants two attorneys, an accountant and two other individuals. The action is based on information misappropriated from a corporate director by his personal...more
The Commission responded to critics of its administrative proceedings this week, proposing changes to the Rules of Practice which govern them. If adopted the new rules would modify the time period within which the actions...more
9/25/2015
/ Accounting Fraud ,
Administrative Hearings ,
Bitcoin ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Cybersecurity ,
Enforcement Actions ,
ETFs ,
False Press Release ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Injunctions ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Funds ,
Jury Verdicts ,
Liquidity Risk Management Rule ,
Management Fees ,
Mutual Funds ,
PCAOB ,
Ponzi Scheme ,
Price Manipulation ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Rules of Practice ,
Securities ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud