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SEC Staff Announces 2019 OCIE Examination Priorities

By Anthony Drenzek on Posted in Compliance, Hedge Funds, OCIE, Private Equity, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law, Venture Capital
The SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations has released its annual priorities publication for 2019.  Containing both a look back at the program’s accomplishments for fiscal year 2018 and a look forward into its initiatives for 2019, this annual report sets out important guidance for private fund managers in administering their compliance programs and … Continue Reading

Valuation of Illiquid Securities as a Focus of Recent Enforcement Actions

By Joshua M. Newville and Brian Hooven on Posted in Compliance, Disputes, OCIE, Private Equity, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law
While the SEC consistently announces that valuation is a “key area of focus,” it is uncommon for regulators to “second guess” valuation determinations in the absence of other potential violations. However, recent actions would suggest that the SEC is particularly interested in the valuations and methodologies behind illiquid securities. As we have noted here before, … Continue Reading

Proskauer Private Investment Funds Group Releases 2018 Annual Review and Outlook

By Anthony Drenzek on Posted in Compliance, Hedge Funds, OCIE, Private Equity, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law, Venture Capital
Proskauer’s Private Investment Funds Group today released its 2018 Annual Review and Outlook for Hedge Funds, Private Equity Funds and Other Private Funds.  This yearly publication provides a summary of some of the significant changes and developments that occurred in the past year in the private equity and hedge funds space, as well as certain recommended … Continue Reading

Bharara Task Force on Insider Trading

By Joshua M. Newville and Samuel J. Waldon on Posted in Compliance, Hedge Funds, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law
Former SDNY U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and SEC Commissioner Jackson recently announced, via NY Times op-ed, the creation of the Bharara Task Force on Insider Trading.  Based on the premise that U.S. insider trading laws are unclear and hopelessly out of date, the task force intends to propose new insider trading reforms to help clarify … Continue Reading

SEC Extends Registration Requirements for Investment Companies and Broker Dealers to ICOs and other Digital Assets

By Joshua M. Newville, Samuel J. Waldon, Robert E. Plaze and Lucy Wolf on Posted in Examinations, Hedge Funds, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law
Fund managers take note – after over a year of warning, this month the SEC announced a pair of settlement orders with respect to registration requirements for a fund and broker dealer operating in the crypto and digital assets space. It was the agency’s first ever enforcement actions applying the investment company and broker-dealer registration … Continue Reading

SEC Enforcement Co-Director Gives Guidance for Wells Process, Part 2

By Samuel J. Waldon, Joshua M. Newville and Brian Hooven on Posted in SEC, Securities Law, White Collar
On June 4, we posted a summary of SEC Enforcement Co-Director Steven Peikin observations during his recent keynote address at the New York City Bar Association’s 7th Annual White Collar Crime Institute.  Co-Director Peikin imparted a few suggested “do’s and don’ts” for effective communication with the SEC during the Wells process.  Although Co-Director Peikin’s suggestions should serve as helpful … Continue Reading

SEC Enforcement Co-Director Gives Guidance for Wells Process

By Samuel J. Waldon, Joshua M. Newville and Brian Hooven on Posted in SEC, Securities Law
During his recent keynote address at the New York City Bar Association’s 7th Annual White Collar Crime Institute, SEC Enforcement Co-Director Steven Peikin imparted a few suggested “do’s and don’ts” for effective communication with the SEC during the Wells process—typically the last opportunity to address potential charges prior to the authorization of a SEC enforcement … Continue Reading

Unicorns: The Tale Continues

By Joshua M. Newville, William Dalsen and Alexandra V. Bargoot on Posted in Compliance, Disputes, Examinations, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law, Venture Capital
Potential disputes involving unicorns have been a hot topic for the last several years.  We predicted that would continue this year in in our webinar and related blog post: The Top Ten Regulatory and Litigation Risks for Private Funds in 2018.  In April, the Regional Director of the SEC’s San Francisco office, Jina Choi, confirmed … Continue Reading

Voluntary Remediation and the SEC: Six Key Elements and Three Potential Pitfalls

By Samuel J. Waldon and Laura Stafford on Posted in Compliance, Examinations, OCIE, Private Equity, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC
A recent settled SEC order, In re Arlington Capital Management, Inc. and Joseph F. LoPresti, highlights the potential benefits of voluntarily taking steps to remediate conduct or practices that could run afoul of the SEC’s rules and standards. If done correctly, voluntary remediation can result in meaningful reductions in the sanctions sought by the SEC. … Continue Reading

Regulatory Scrutiny of the ICO Market – What Fund Managers Should Know

By Joshua M. Newville, Anthony Drenzek and Brian Hooven on Posted in Compliance, Disputes, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law, Venture Capital
Last week, former CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler explained in remarks at M.I.T. that he believes the second and third most widely used virtual currencies—Ether and Ripple—may have been issued and traded in violation of securities regulations. This comes on the heels of a crackdown on cryptocurrency-related securities by the SEC, which is particularly focused on … Continue Reading

SEC Settles with Private Equity Fund Adviser over Alleged Conflicts of Interest

By Anthony Drenzek and Michael R. Hackett on Posted in Compliance, Disputes, Examinations, OCIE, Private Equity, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law
As a sign that the SEC is continuing to actively pursue private equity fund advisers, on April 24, 2018, the SEC announced a settlement with private equity fund adviser WCAS Management Corporation (WCAS) related to allegations of undisclosed conflicts of interest. The specific conflicts resulted from an allegedly undisclosed contractual arrangement whereby a portion of … Continue Reading

SEC Staff Issues Risk Alert on the Six Most Frequent Fee and Expense Compliance Issues

By Robert E. Plaze, Joshua M. Newville, Robert Leonard and Anthony Drenzek on Posted in Compliance, Hedge Funds, OCIE, Private Equity, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law, Venture Capital
On April 12, 2018, the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations issued a risk alert listing the most common compliance issues concerning fees and expenses charged by SEC-registered investment advisers.  Advisers should review their practices, policies and procedures to ensure compliance with their advisory agreements and representations to clients in light of the fee … Continue Reading

Proskauer Adds Former SEC Enforcement Counsel, Samuel Waldon, As Partner Strengthening Its Securities Litigation Offering

By Timothy W. Mungovan on Posted in Compliance, Disputes, Examinations, Hedge Funds, OCIE, Private Credit, Private Equity, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law, Venture Capital, Whistleblower
We are pleased to announce that partner Samuel Waldon has joined Proskauer’s Litigation Department in DC, enhancing the Firm’s securities litigation and regulatory enforcement practices.  Among his other areas of focus, Sam will bolster the firm’s Asset Management Litigation team. “In today’s ever evolving regulatory landscape, Sam’s extensive experience at the SEC and his deep … Continue Reading

SEC Announces 2018 Compliance Outreach Program Seminar for Investment Advisers and Investment Companies

By Anthony Drenzek on Posted in Compliance, OCIE, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law
On Tuesday, February 13th, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the opening of registration for its 2018 national compliance outreach seminar for investment companies and investment advisers. The event is intended to help Chief Compliance Officers (CCOs) and other senior personnel at investment companies and investment advisory firms to enhance their compliance programs. … Continue Reading

The Top Ten Regulatory and Litigation Risks for Private Funds in 2018

By Timothy W. Mungovan, Joshua M. Newville, Michael R. Hackett, Anthony Drenzek, William Dalsen, Alexandra V. Bargoot, Brian Hooven and Lucy Wolf on Posted in Business Development Companies, Compliance, Disputes, Examinations, Hedge Funds, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Credit, Private Equity, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law, Venture Capital
With the public equity markets at an all-time high and private equity fund raising setting new records, it might seem counterintuitive to forecast litigation and regulatory risks.  The opposite is true.  Disputes typically follow capital, and the steeper the growth curve, the greater the risk of litigation and regulatory scrutiny.  With that backdrop, we are … Continue Reading

Chairman Clayton Asks Lawyers to Knock it Off with the Unregistered Coin Offerings

By Joshua M. Newville and Jeffrey Neuburger on Posted in Hedge Funds, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law
In his recent remarks at the Securities Regulation Institute, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton had some stern words for market professionals, especially lawyers, involved in initial coin offerings (ICOs).  He expressed concern that lawyers in the space “can do better” in their role as gatekeepers to the securities markets, particularly in advising clients whether the “coin” … Continue Reading

Five Things to Think About Before a Surprise SEC Exam

By Joshua M. Newville, Robert E. Plaze, Christopher Wells and Alexandra V. Bargoot on Posted in Compliance, Examinations, Hedge Funds, Private Equity, Regulation, SEC
If a team from the SEC arrives at your office and says, “We are conducting an on-site examination and would like to talk to the CCO right now,” are you prepared? A handful of registered investment advisers have faced surprise SEC exams in recent months. These exams come in two flavors: either a “for cause” … Continue Reading

Proskauer Private Investment Funds Group Releases Annual Review and Outlook

By Anthony Drenzek and Michael R. Hackett on Posted in Compliance, Hedge Funds, OCIE, Private Equity, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law, Venture Capital
Proskauer’s Private Investment Funds Group recently released its 2017 Annual Review and Outlook for Hedge Funds, Private Equity Funds and Other Private Funds.  This yearly publication provides a summary of some of the significant changes and developments that occurred in the past year in the private equity and hedge funds space, as well as certain … Continue Reading

SEC Releases FY 2017 Enforcement Results: Maintaining Focus on Individual Accountability and Investment Advisers

By Joshua M. Newville, Michael R. Hackett, Anthony Drenzek and Alexandra V. Bargoot on Posted in Compliance, Hedge Funds, Private Equity, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law
Last night, the SEC announced its enforcement results for the Fiscal Year 2017, accompanied by a report from the Co-Directors of its Division of Enforcement.  While the total number of actions was down slightly from 2016, the percentage of those cases involving investment advisers or investment companies – 18% – remained consistent, and amounted to … Continue Reading

U.S. House Bill Aims to Curtail SEC Staff’s Ability to Obtain Algorithmic Trading Source Code

By Christopher Wells, Robert Leonard, Michael Mavrides, Joshua M. Newville, Anthony Drenzek and Lucy Wolf on Posted in Compliance, Hedge Funds, OCIE, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law
On October 4, 2017, U.S. Representative Sean P. Duffy [R-WI-7] introduced U.S. House of Representatives Bill H.R.3948 entitled the “Protection of Source Code Act.” If enacted, the Bill would amend the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act to prohibit the SEC staff from obtaining algorithmic trading … Continue Reading

Pay-to-Play – SEC Expands Scope of Rule to CABs

By Lucy Wolf, Anthony Drenzek, Michael R. Hackett and Joshua M. Newville on Posted in Compliance, Examinations, FINRA, Hedge Funds, OCIE, Private Equity, Private Equity Litigation, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law, Venture Capital
The SEC’s pay-to-play rule has given advisers reason to worry about potential foot faults since its adoption. As we have noted in prior posts, the rule is filled with landmines and is therefore difficult to navigate.  As was evident from the SEC’s announcement of a series of settlements of alleged pay-to-play violations in early 2017, even … Continue Reading

SEC Flags the Top Six Advertising Rule Deficiencies for Investment Advisers

By Stephen T. Mears, Robert E. Plaze, Christopher Wells, Anthony Drenzek, Joshua M. Newville and Michael R. Hackett on Posted in Compliance, OCIE, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law
The SEC staff recently published an alert highlighting the most common deficiencies seen in investment advisers’ marketing materials.  Based on its recent examinations and initiatives, the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) issued its risk alert to highlight compliance issues relating to Rule 206(4)-1 (the “Advertising Rule”).  Here are the top six: Misleading Performance … Continue Reading

Snap Judgment: Unicorns Under Pressure and Addressing Risks of Private Lawsuits

By Joshua M. Newville, William Dalsen and Alexandra V. Bargoot on Posted in Disputes, Hedge Funds, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Private Equity Litigation, SEC, Venture Capital
The recent IPOs of Snap, Inc. and Blue Apron indicate that while the IPO pipeline continues to flow, there may be a cautionary tale for “unicorns” – venture-backed companies with estimated valuations in excess of $1 billion. After Snap went public in March, it posted a $2.2 billion loss in its first quarter, yielding a … Continue Reading

SEC Speaks on Initial Coin Offerings: Tokens May Be Securities

By Jeffrey Neuburger, Joshua M. Newville and Alexandra V. Bargoot on Posted in Compliance, Examinations, Hedge Funds, News, Private Equity, Regulation, SEC, Securities Law
Initial Coin Offerings (“ICOs”) are generating attention from both investors and the SEC. Investors’ interest is indicated by the more than $1.2 billion that ICOs reportedly have raised so far this year.  Meanwhile, the SEC has recently asserted its authority in the space, releasing a report stating that digital tokens issued by ICO platform “The … Continue Reading
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