The future of the Department of Labor’s Fiduciary rule is in limbo following the Fifth Circuit’s decision striking it down “in toto.” Takeaways The future of the Fiduciary rule is uncertain, particularly in light of the Fifth Circuit’s decision vacating the rule. Retirement plan fiduciaries should continue to stay apprised…
On June 9, 2017, the Department of Labor (DOL) regulation updating the definition of “fiduciary” for purposes of ERISA became effective, along with a series of new and updated prohibited transaction exemptions. The DOL regulation expands the types of activities that can give rise to fiduciary status, and applies not…
The ERISA Advisory Council recently announced that, as part of its goals for 2016, it will be focusing on cybersecurity issues affecting retirement plans and, in particular, the extent to which such issues relate to third-party administrators and vendors (TPAs) of retirement plans. By shining the spotlight on the role…
A group of related private equity (“PE”) funds were found liable for a bankrupt portfolio company’s pension plan debts in the latest and most worrisome decision in the long-running Sun Capital Partners III, LP v. New England Teamsters and Trucking Industry Pension Fund dispute. The novel decision, if upheld on…
On April 14, 2015, the Department of Labor issued its much anticipated re-proposal of regulations defining and expanding the persons who are treated as ERISA fiduciaries. Under the proposal, subject to certain exceptions, all persons who provide investment advice or recommendations for a fee to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, plan…
Written by: Jessica M. Brown The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced sanctions today against Western Asset Management Company (“Western Asset”), a subsidiary of Legg Mason. Western Asset is an SEC-registered investment adviser and reported $442.7 billion in assets under management as…
Written by: Jeffrey Stern and Anthony H. Schouten The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has issued new “know your customer” and external business conduct rules to give effect to certain provisions of Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Under these rules, major dealers in swaps…
By Peter J. Hunt, Susan P. Serota, Matthew C. Ryan1 In welcome news for private equity (“PE”) funds, a recent district court opinion determined that two PE funds and their bankrupt portfolio company were not a “controlled group” and thus the PE funds were not responsible for pension liabilities at the…