Securities Law

SEC Issues More than $17 Million Award to a Whistleblower

July 19, 2022

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced an award of more than $17 million to a whistleblower who provided information and assistance in a covered action and related action. The whistleblower’s information prompted SEC staff to open a new… Full report at: Read More

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Equitable Financial To Pay $50 Million Penalty To Settle SEC Charges That It Provided Misleading Account Statements to Investors

July 18, 2022

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced fraud charges against Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company for providing account statements to about 1.4 million variable annuity investors that included materially misleading statements and… Full report at: Read More

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Jaime Lizárraga Sworn In as SEC Commissioner

July 18, 2022

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Jaime Lizárraga has been sworn into office as a Commissioner by Chair Gary Gensler. Commissioner Lizárraga was nominated by President Biden earlier this year and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on… Full report at: Read More

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SEC Awards Whistleblowers More Than $6 Million

July 15, 2022

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced awards totaling more than $6 million to two whistleblowers who provided critical information and assistance in two separate covered actions. In the first order, the SEC issued an award of more than… Full report at: Read More

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SEC Proposes Amendments to Shareholder Proposal Rule

July 13, 2022

The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed amendments to the rule that governs the process for including shareholder proposals in a company’s proxy statement. Under Rule 14a-8, companies generally must include shareholder proposals in their… Full report at: Read More

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SEC Adopts Amendments to Proxy Rules Governing Proxy Voting Advice

July 13, 2022

The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted to adopt amendments to its rules governing proxy voting advice as proposed in November 2021. The final amendments aim to avoid burdens on proxy voting advice businesses that may impair the timeliness and… Full report at: Read More

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SEC Charges Empires Consulting Corp. with Fake Trading Scheme

June 30, 2022

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced fraud charges against Empires Consulting Corp. (EmpiresX), its founders Emerson Sousa Pires and Flavio Mendes Goncalves, and its head trader Joshua David Nicholas, for a scheme that allegedly raised… Full report at: Read More

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UBS to Pay $25 Million to Settle SEC Fraud Charges Involving Complex Options Trading Strategy

June 29, 2022

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that UBS Financial Services Inc. has agreed to pay approximately $25 million to settle fraud charges relating to a complex investment strategy referred to as YES, or Yield Enhancement Strategy.… Full report at: Read More

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Denver Regional Director Kurt L. Gottschall to Leave SEC

June 29, 2022

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Kurt L. Gottschall, the Director of the Denver Regional Office since 2018, is leaving the agency after more than 22 years of service. Jason J. Burt and Thomas M. Piccone will become the office’s… Full report at: Read More

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Ernst & Young to Pay $100 Million Penalty for Employees Cheating on CPA Ethics Exams and Misleading Investigation

June 28, 2022

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Ernst & Young LLP (EY) for cheating by its audit professionals on exams required to obtain and maintain Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licenses, and for withholding evidence of this misconduct… Full report at: Read More

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