Michael Lewis packages his stories on the effects of the global financial crisis in Iceland, Greece, Ireland, Germany, and California into one book: Boomerang. If you had ready the stories when they were published in Vanity Fair, then you’ve ready the book. If you missed some (or all) of those stories then this book is [...]
Tag Archives: California
California’s New Placement Agent Law
California has become the latest state to regulate the use of placement agents who help investment managers secure government pension fund money. (Or is that placement agents who help government pension fund money find suitable investment managers?) California Assembly Bill 1743 was backed by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the state treasurer and the [...]
SEC Warns Firms on Muni Pay-to-Play Rules
While sources are wallowing in the exposure of a political figure in a “pay to play” scandal, I thought there might be some lessons for other investment managers as states and perhaps the SEC roll out limitations on political contributions. The original story seemed mildly interesting. The SEC warned firms that municipal securities rules prohibiting [...]
California Proposes Having Placement Agents Register
Placement agents would have to register as lobbyists under legislation proposed by Assemblyman Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina). The legislation would define placement agents as lobbyists in accordance with the state’s Political Reform Act. Placement agents would have to register as lobbyists before pitching investment ideas to public pension plans in California. It seems like the [...]
California Regulates Use of Placement Agents
California has followed the lead of New York and started regulating the use of placement agents. California’s law requires placement agents to disclose contributions and gifts made to state and local pension and retirement board members, as well as information about the placement agent’s compensation, the services provided, and any lobbying or regulatory registrations. The [...]
California Adopts e-Discovery Rules
Never mind the budget crisis or handing out IOUs, California has passed its own Electronic Discovery Act. California joins the 30 other states that have decided to include provisions in their rules aimed directly at the discovery of Electronically Stored Information. The Act amends the California Code of Civil Procedure by expressly permitting discovery of [...]
California IOUs
California started issuing IOUs instead of checks. I know some people that got an IOU instead of their tax refund. They are not alone. In the last week, State Controller John Chiang’s office issued 91,000 IOUs worth $354 million to people expecting tax refunds, to state vendors and to local governments. Banks have been willing [...]
You’re a Victim of a Ponzi Scheme, But What About Your State Taxes?
You missed the warning signs and got suckered into a Ponzi scheme. The IRS offered some tax relief for long-term Ponzi scheme investors (like some of the Madoff victims) who have paid taxes on gains from the investment. The IRS clarified the federal tax law governing the treatment of losses in Ponzi schemes. They also [...]
Recent Changes to the ADA and FMLA
Goodwin Procter presented a webinar on recent changes to the Americans with Disability Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Rob Hale moderating the presentation. Heidi Goldstein Shepherd led off with a background on the ADA. The key concept for employers is that it is up to the employee to request a “reasonable accommodation” [...]
California’s Pay-to-Play Laws
California requires disclosure of gifts to officials at public agencies. The disclosure is made using Form 801 (.pdf). This form is for use by all state and local government agencies to disclose payments made to the agency when the payments provide a personal benefit to an official of the agency. Examples may include travel, meals [...]
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