Written by: Jay B. Gould and Jessica M. Brown The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations released a “Risk Alert” on January 28, 2014, which focuses on the due diligence investment advisers perform in alternative investments[1] and managers for their clients. After observing an increasing trend…
As the new year is upon us, there are some important annual compliance obligations Investment Advisers either registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or with a particular state (“Investment Adviser”) and Commodity Pool Operators (“CPOs”) or Commodity Trading Advisors (“CTAs”) registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission…
Written by: Jay B. Gould On October 23, 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) brought charges against three different investment advisory firms for recidivist behavior. The enforcement actions came out of the SEC’s Compliance Program Initiative, which targets firms that have been previously warned by SEC examiners about compliance…
Written by: Michael G. Wu The National Futures Association (“NFA”) recently implemented a new quarterly reporting requirement for commodity trading advisors (“CTAs”). Under NFA Compliance Rule 2-46, CTAs must file on a quarterly basis NFA Form PR, which consists of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Form CTA-PR together with additional…
Written by: Jay B. Gould On September 17, 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced enforcement actions against 23 firms for short selling violations as the agency increases its focus on preventing firms from improperly participating in public stock offerings after selling short those same stocks. The enforcement actions…
This article was published by The FCPA Report and is reprinted here with permission. More and more, venture capital firms are investing in start-ups seeking to expand internationally or with nascent cross-border operations in place. Such investments offer opportunities for lucrative returns but also carry significant anti-corruption risk that VC firms are…
Written by: Kimberly V. Mann The Security and Exchange Commission’s recent enforcement action against Lawrence D. Polizzotto serves as a reminder to all issuers that Regulation FD enforcement is alive and well. The Polizzotto Case Polizzotto, the former vice president of investor relations at First Solar, Inc. (and, ironically, a…
Written by: Jay B. Gould On June 21, 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) entered a cease and desist order (technically called an “Order Instituting Administrative and Cease-and-Desist Proceeding”) against the former President of Stanford Capital Management, Jason A. D’Amato. You may read the full SEC Order here. Because…
REGISTER NOW! Pillsbury and the California Hedge Fund Association invite you to join us on Thursday, April 25, 2013 for an educational program featuring Ms. Jan Lynn Owen, the Commissioner of the California Department of Corporations (DOC) and Person to be Announced from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The…
Last month, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), published its examination priorities for 2013. As we suggested in our Blog posting at that time, the SEC is fixated on examining and bringing enforcement against its newest class of investment adviser – managers of private equity funds. Fast forward four…