These are some of the compliance-related stories that recently caught my attention.
Lawyers as SEC Enforcement Targets, What a Fund Manager Needs to Know by Jay B. Gould in the Investment Fund Law Blog
In a move that should place securities lawyers and their clients on notice, Commissioner Kara Stein of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently indicated that lawyers may become targets of SEC enforcement actions when a registrant has been poorly advised by its attorney and the result of that advice ends up harming investors or violating regulatory standards. The SEC has the ability to sanction, fine and bar attorneys and accountants from practicing before the SEC pursuant to SEC Rules of Practice 102(e). As a practical matter, a bar pursuant to Rule102(e) precludes an attorney or an accountant from representing a regulated entity, such as an investment adviser or broker dealer, in any further dealings with the SEC or otherwise.
White & Case discusses DC Circuit’s CFIUS Ruling by Richard J. Burke, Cristina Brayton-Lewis, Tanya Hanna and Ziad Haider in the CLS BLue Sky Blog
The DC Circuit’s ruling constitutes an important albeit narrow victory for foreign investors who have sought greater transparency in the CFIUS review process. While the ruling grants certain due process protections to investors, the CFIUS legal regime remains intact, and the due process to be accorded will still need to be balanced against other interests.