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Enforcement Actions Broker-Dealer Financial Services Industry

Troutman Pepper Locke

FINRA Continues to Scrutinize Customer Facing Communications on Crypto Offerings

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On July 16, TradeStation Securities, Inc., a member firm of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (AWC) to FINRA’s Department of Enforcement. This AWC...more

BakerHostetler

DSIR Deeper Dive: Information Governance - Communication Retention Challenges and a Return-to-Office Reaction

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Let’s say, once upon a time, you worked from home during the pandemic. If so, did you use a variety of communication methods (perhaps switching among different platforms, never sure which camera or microphone would be...more

Carlton Fields

U.S. Supreme Court Denies Alpine’s Petition Challenging Constitutionality of FINRA Enforcement Proceedings

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On June 2, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of certiorari filed by Alpine Securities Corp. in Alpine Securities Corp. v. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. In doing so, the Supreme Court declined...more

Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani

Recent SEC AML Enforcement Against Securities Firms Engaged in Cannabis Sector

The evolving regulatory landscape for marijuana-related businesses poses unique compliance challenges for firms in the securities industry. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) continues to enforce its 2014...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

First Circuit Questions Materiality in SEC's Case Against Commonwealth Equity Services

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On April 1, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit vacated a summary judgment ruling in favor of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Commonwealth Equity Services, LLC, also known as Commonwealth...more

A&O Shearman

Addressing Issue Of First Impression, Southern District Of New York Dismisses Action Seeking To Impose Short-Swing Liability...

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On March 14, 2025, Judge John P. Cronan of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted summary judgment in favor of defendants in an action brought under Section 16(b) of the Securities...more

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

No Commission Without Permission: SEC Reinforces Focus on Sales Activities and Transaction-Based Compensation as Hallmarks of...

Several recent enforcement actions from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or Commission) reaffirm that “finders” involved in soliciting investors on behalf of private companies are, in the SEC’s view, required...more

ArentFox Schiff

SEC Cracks Down on Unregistered Broker-Dealers

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StraightPath Venture Partners, LLC and PMAC Consulting have recently reached settlements with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) following SEC enforcement actions against them....more

Morgan Lewis

Developments in SEC and FINRA Enforcement and Exams for Investment Advisers and Broker-Dealers: 2024–2025

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The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) brought a number of significant enforcement proceedings against investment advisers and broker-dealers in FY 2024 and during the first quarter of FY 2025. If history serves as a...more

A&O Shearman

UK Financial Conduct Authority portfolio letter on supervisory strategy for wholesale brokers

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The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published a Dear CEO Letter on its new strategy for supervising wholesale brokers. The FCA has observed a change in the sector in recent years with larger firms acquiring smaller ones...more

Carlton Fields

Piecing Alpine Together

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Is FINRA constitutional? According to the D.C. Circuit’s November 2024 opinion in Alpine Securities Corp. v. FINRA, FINRA proceedings may be unconstitutional in one narrow set of circumstances. ...more

BCLP

The Impact of Flexible SEC Sanctions on Defendants

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U.S. federal law gives the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) flexibility when seeking sanctions, including remedies that are tailored to specific cases. ...more

WilmerHale

Keeping Up with the Regulators: How to Build an Effective Compliance Programme to Satisfy the Best Interest Care Obligation

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It has been nearly five years since the US Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’ or ‘the Commission’) adopted Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) to enhance the standard of conduct applicable to broker-dealers when they...more

Cozen O'Connor

Edward Jones Settles Multistate Investigation into Commissions and Supervisory Procedures

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New Jersey AG Matthew Platkin has settled with Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., as part of a multistate investigation that included 14 states and the North American Securities Administrators Association, over allegations that the...more

Seward & Kissel LLP

Financial Services Firm Affiliates Settle Five SEC Enforcement Actions for Allegedly Misleading Customers and Failing to Act in...

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Who may be interested: Registered Investment Companies; Registered Investment Advisers; Broker Dealers; Compliance Officers; Boards of Directors - Quick Take: The SEC recently settled five separate enforcement proceedings...more

Carlton Fields

SEC Penalties for Off-Channel Communications: Still Blowing in the Wind

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The SEC has increased its enforcement efforts against firms that are registered as broker-dealers and/or investment advisers for alleged violations of federal securities laws involving “off-channel communications.” Such...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Broker-Dealer Disciplinary Actions: Takeaways From 2024 (So Far)

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and the Exchanges were active across a host of regulatory issues impacting fintech companies and broker-dealers during...more

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Fintech in Brief: Recent SEC Enforcement Activity on the Custody Rule: Clues for the Focus of Anticipated Rules on Safekeeping...

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced two settled charges involving alleged violations of Rule 206(4)-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Advisers Act), known as the “Custody Rule.” These...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

SEC Charges Broker-Dealer and Two Affiliated Investment Advisers With Violating Whistleblower Protection Rule

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On September 4, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued an order against three investment adviser firms for violating the whistleblower protections of Rule 21F-17(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This...more

Carlton Fields

Cinch Up! AI Enforcement Starts With Washing Charges

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In March 2024, the SEC announced that it settled two cases against investment advisers Delphia (USA) Inc. and Global Predictions Inc. for making false and misleading statements about their purported use of artificial...more

BakerHostetler

Weekly Blockchain Blog - May 2024 #2

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Crypto and Web3 Firms Announce Fintech Integrations - A major U.S. fintech firm recently announced a product integration with MoonPay, a Web3 infrastructure company, “that allows MoonPay users in the U.S. to seamlessly buy...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

What Private Equity Firms Need to Know About the Ongoing SEC Investigation of “Off-Channel” Communications

Over the last several years, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has been laser-focused on the use of so-called “off-channel communications” in the financial services industry. On the theory that employees’ use of...more

Latham & Watkins LLP

Ruling for SEC Clears Path for Continued Litigation in SEC v. Coinbase

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The decision, which addresses a broad range of market activity by Coinbase relating to 13 third-party tokens, could have significant implications for market participants. On March 27, 2024, Judge Katherine Failla of the US...more

Bilzin Sumberg

SEC Issues First AI-Related Civil Penalties and Warns Against “AI Washing”

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​​​​​​​The Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, March 18, 2024, entered into settlements with Delphia (USA) and Global Predictions, which agreed to pay civil penalties totaling $225,000 and $175,000, for “AI...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Broker Dealer Regulatory Digest - February 2024

The following newsletter provides a roundup summarizing enforcement actions, guidance, rulemakings, and other public statements taken by a federal and/or state financial services regulatory agency, specifically focusing on:...more

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