SEC to Charter Schools: Avoid these risks when you engage your financing team - If you’ve financed a school facility – or you’re thinking about it – the SEC is watching (out for) you and the financing team you hire. They’ve...more
While this November’s election is over, many organizations remain politically active in between the general election and the time that newly elected and re-elected officials take office. In fact, many individuals and...more
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
Overview: Investment advisers that seek to manage public money need to consider the SEC’s “pay to play” rule, which restricts election-related contributions by the firms or their “covered associates” to elected state...more
On August 6, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for president and announced Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. This marked the end of the primary election period for the Harris/Walz...more
Employees of investment advisers must consider whether their employer is managing or seeking to manage public funds in Minnesota before donating to the Harris-Walz campaign this election season. Vice President Harris’...more
Vice President Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the upcoming Presidential election. Because Governor Walz is an “official” for purposes of the SEC’s pay-to-play rule under the...more
Vice President Kamala Harris announced today that she has selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate in her bid for president. Contributions to the Harris/Walz campaign are now subject to the...more
On July 26, a financial firm accepted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (AWC) from FINRA for allegedly charging unfair prices in corporate and municipal bond transactions and for allegedly failing to establish a...more
On August 6, Vice President Kamala Harris selected Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota as her Vice-Presidential running mate for the 2024 general election. Since Governor Walz is a state official, his selection for the ticket...more
On July 19, FINRA accepted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (AWC) from a member firm to resolve alleged Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) violations. According to the AWC, from June 2020 to March 2023, the member...more
On July 21, 2024, President Joseph Biden announced that he was ending his bid for reelection and instead endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president. A presumptive nominee withdrawing so close to the party convention...more
On July 10, FINRA accepted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent against a broker-dealer related to missing information on transaction confirmations. From June 2020 to September 2023, the broker-dealer allegedly failed...more
In the first half of 2024, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued several fines and suspensions against participants in the municipal market, including for violations of its registration, reporting,...more
If there are two political law compliance issues that perennially bedog federal, state, and local government contractors, it is the myriad of state and local pay-to-play laws and procurement lobbying laws. In the FAQs below,...more
FINRA's new enforcement head, Bill St. Louis, recently appeared on FINRA Unscripted, a FINRA podcast where he discussed his vision for FINRA's Enforcement Department as well as certain key regulatory issues that are under...more
On January 17, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a bulletin advising banks on how to prepare for the upcoming shortening in the standard securities settlement cycle for most U.S. securities...more
A bond issue (a debt obligation of a local government) is often perceived as a mystery for many Pennsylvania local government officials and solicitors. The securities and tax regulations governing municipal bonds have grown...more
FINRA recently published its 90-page 2024 Annual Regulatory Oversight Report (Report) providing member firms with insight into six primary topics: Financial Crimes, Crypto Asset Development, Firm Operations, Communications...more
On October 16, 2023, the Division of Examinations (the “Division”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) published its annual Examination Priorities for 2024 (the “Exam Priorities”). Consistent with the...more
The 2023 elections are a little over a month away, and hopefully, if your corporation holds or seeks state and local government business, you have been regularly reminding your directors, officers, and other employees about...more
2023 MID-YEAR REVIEW - In the first half of 2023, several rule changes have been proposed by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including changes to...more
The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”) is implementing changes to login accounts for its Electronic Municipal Market Access System (“EMMA”) that may affect issuers and other obligors making continuing disclosure...more
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announced his candidacy for the 2024 GOP Presidential nomination on June 7, 2023. His announcement, on the heels of Florida Governor DeSantis’ May 24 announcement, highlights the urgent need...more
After recently signing legislation allowing state officeholders to run for president without resigning from office, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has officially entered the 2024 presidential race. As a sitting governor, DeSantis...more