The Law of the Financial Markets from Top Securities Lawyers
Monday, April 20, 2026
By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced what it labels “comprehensive revisions” to its Enforcement Manual, marking the first update since 2017. The SEC claims that the changes are designed to strengthen fairness, transparency, and procedural consistency in enforcement investigations, while improving efficiency and resource […]
We have written about the SEC’s Wells process in the past. A Wells Notice is a notice from a regulator that it intends to bring enforcement proceeding against the recipient, and offering the opportunity to argue against those charges. In my article Responding to a Wells Notice, I examined the […]
SEC investigations can be a harrowing experience for the witness as well as the targets. One of the first questions my clients ask when faced with a subpoena from the SEC is how long is this going to take? While I hate to give the typical lawyer answer, that answer […]
By Mark Astarita Being the subject, target, or even a witness in an SEC or a FINRA investigation is not a pleasant experience. As I discussed in my column “When the SEC Comes Calling” a financial professional’s involvement in a regulatory investigation or proceeding is extremely serious, and can be […]
Receiving a subpoena from the SEC, or an 8210 Request from FINRA can be the start of a long investigative process while can ultimately lead to a Wells Notice, and an enforcement proceeding. How you handle that process can dictate the end result, and you need to retain competent securities […]
