Introduction: The SEC has announced a settlement involving Bittrex Inc., a prominent crypto asset trading platform, and its co-founder, William Shihara. The agreement pertains to charges of operating an unregistered national securities exchange, broker, and clearing agency. Bittrex Inc.’s foreign affiliate, Bittrex Global GmbH, is also included in the settlement, […]
Tag: Securities Law
Grupo Aval Fined $40 Million for Violating Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Introduction: The SEC has taken legal action against Colombian conglomerate Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores S.A., commonly known as Grupo Aval S.A., along with its subsidiary, Corporación Financiera Colombiana S.A. (Corficolombiana), for their alleged violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). This case sheds light on illicit activities within […]
Theorem Fund Services Settles Charges for Ignoring Red Flags in a Fraud Scheme
Aug. 7, 2023 — The SEC announced settled charges against Theorem Fund Services LLC (TFS), a prominent fund administrator based in Boca Raton, Florida. The charges were brought against TFS for their failure to respond adequately to red flags related to a fraud perpetrated against a private fund and its […]
Introduction to SEC Investigations
Introduction SEC Investigations, and ultimately SEC enforcement proceedings, can be disruptive, and devastating events for individuals and corporations. Next to hiring an experienced securities defense attorney, knowing what to expect during the investigation will help you achieve your desired result. As former SEC Staff Attorneys, and Securities Defense Attorneys, the attorneys […]
SEC Proposes Amendments to Internet Investment Adviser Registration Rule
Introduction The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recently put forth a set of proposed amendments to the rule governing the registration of investment advisers who provide their services through the Internet. These amendments aim to modernize the existing Internet adviser registration rule and ensure that investment advisers can efficiently […]
Judge Rules In Favor of Ripple, Declares XRP Not a Security…Sometimes
July 13, 2023 – In a landmark ruling, Judge Analisa Torres ruled that Ripple Labs did not violate federal securities law by selling its XRP token on public exchanges, however she also found that selling XRP directly to investors did violate the law. In a significant development, the Securities and […]
Rule 147: The Intrastate Exemption Explained
Section 3(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, Rule 147, the “intrastate offering exemption,” grants relief from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for securities that are offered and sold exclusively to individuals residing within a single State or Territory. To qualify for this exemption, the issuer of the […]
JPMorgan Chase announces layoffs
July 12, 2023 – JPMorgan Chase revealed plans to terminate a number of positions in its Jersey City, New Jersey, branch. The planned layoffs are scheduled to occur in September, according to the notice. As the biggest U.S. lender, JPMorgan’s workforce totaled 296,877 at the close of the first quarter, […]
SEC Obtains Emergency Relief to Halt Pre-IPO Stock Fraud Scheme by Unregistered Broker-Dealer
SEC Obtains Preliminary Injunction and Asset Freeze Against Legend Venture Partners Introduction In a significant development, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken decisive action against Legend Venture Partners LLC, an unregistered broker-dealer based in New York City. The SEC’s move comes in response to the discovery of a […]
SEC Charges Convicted Fraudster in Real Estate Ponzi Scheme
Wilson Baston has been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission for defrauding investors through a Ponzi scheme. Learn more here. #securitiesfraud