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
President Biden recently signed into law the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (“FEPA”), enabling federal prosecution of non-U.S. government officials who solicit or receive bribes. FEPA complements the Foreign Corrupt...more
Shining a Light on the Corporate Transparency Act: FinCEN’s Rules for Beneficial Ownership Reporting - On January 1, 2021, Congress enacted the Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”) as part of the Anti-Money Laundering...more
As the world now knows, Binance Holdings Limited, doing business as Binance.com (“Binance” or the “Company”), has entered into a plea agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”)....more
...SEC Adopts Amendments to Fund Names Rule - On September 20, 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amendments to Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Fund Names Rule) as well...more
Beginning on January 1, 2024, many U.S. legal entities and foreign entities registered to do business in the U.S. will be required to report information about themselves, their beneficial owners, and their company applicants...more
On June 5, 2023, the SEC filed an extensive civil complaint against Binance Holdings Limited, its assorted affiliates and its beneficial owner and CEO, Changpeng Zhao, alleging multiple violations of the Securities Act of...more
The Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) on September 29, 2022 issued a final rule (Final Rule) defining and implementing the beneficial ownership reporting requirements of Section 6403...more
Welcome to the latest issue of Bracewell’s FINRA Facts and Trends, a monthly newsletter devoted to condensing and digesting recent FINRA developments in the areas of enforcement, regulation and dispute resolution. This...more
This latest edition of the regulatory initiatives paper sets out at a high level the core regulatory issues that are likely to impact private fund managers in the coming months, including an overview of the key actions needed...more
AML (Anti Money Laundering) reforms led to the Corporate Transparency Act. On January 1, 2021, Congress enacted the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (the NDAA), after overriding a presidential veto....more
Payment for order flow (PFOF) and best execution; market access; finfluencers and gamification; and anti-money laundering were some of the most critical emerging and familiar compliance challenges faced by member firms...more
OVERLAP IN THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1934 - The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) presides over two separate beneficial ownership reporting schemes under Sections 13 and 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934....more
Department of Justice announces criminal and civil cryptocurrency initiatives as Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gensler continues to develop the agency’s regulatory and enforcement agenda. Despite an unsettled...more