Claire McCusker Murray: Incentivizing corporate compliance at the DOJ
Justice Department Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Claire McCusker Murray spoke at CW’s annual conference on how the agency’s Civil Division seeks to motivate compliance.
Companies House reforms to better protect U.K. companies from criminal activity
Companies House recently unveiled a substantial package of reforms that will do more to safeguard the personal data of business owners in an effort to offer U.K. companies greater protection from fraud.
GAO suggests supervisory improvements for bank regulators
Is there a better way for bank regulators to conduct their supervisory and remediation processes? Congress’ GAO developed a rundown of suggestions and best practices in a report released this week.
Major changes to California privacy law likely scuttled
An initiative to strengthen and enhance the California Consumer Privacy Act was basically left for dead in that state’s legislature.
SEC approves ‘long-term’ stock exchange
The SEC has approved a new national securities exchange committed to long-term investing.
California groups sue CFPB for shirking Dodd-Frank data collections
Two advocacy groups are suing the Trump administration and CFPB for failing to disclose data on lending to women-owned, minority-owned, and small businesses.
FinCEN elaborates on virtual currency risk, obligations
SARs and due diligence are cited as effective tools for avoiding virtual currency malfeasance, says the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
SEC proposes actions to bolster cross-border swap rules
The SEC has proposed a package of rule amendments and guidance for improving the regulation of cross-border swaps transactions.
SEC amendments could tailor accelerated filer definitions
The Securities and Exchange Commission has voted to propose amendments to the accelerated filer and large accelerated filer definitions.
Justice Department: How to receive cooperation credit in False Claims Act cases
New Justice Department guidance details how companies can be rewarded for assisting in a False Claims Act investigation, but it includes some caveats.
New rule: Companies must reveal drug costs in TV ads
Under a new rule enacted by the Department of Health and Human Services, pharmaceutical companies will soon be required to disclose in television commercials the price of their prescription drugs that cost more than $35 per month.
CFPB proposes debt collection rule changes
Proposed regulations to renew the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act include unlimited texting and e-mail in collection efforts.
Gillibrand touts bill to protect against credit lending discrimination
The Protections in Consumer Lending Act is intended to protect against discrimination when consumers apply for different types of credit.
As it cleans house, FTC spares a popular rule
The FTC has announced the completion of its review of the Holder in Due Course Rule (Holder Rule), a protection for consumers who purchase goods and services using credit obtained through a merchant or by a lender who works with a merchant.
SEC proposes new disclosures for acquisitions, dispositions
The SEC has proposed steps to improve the information investors receive regarding the acquisition and disposition of businesses.
A legacy in cowboy boots
Former CFTC Commissioner Bart Chilton, who died last month, struck more a figure of a rock star than a regulator.
CFTC proposes to amend derivatives clearing organization regulations
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission on April 29 issued a proposed rule to amend certain regulations that apply to derivatives clearing organizations (DCOs) under Part 39 of the CFTC’s regulations. Part 39 implements the statutory core principles for DCOs.
CFTC approves proposed rule to improve quality for swap data repositories
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission approved a proposed rule to improve the quality of swap data and update and streamline regulations related to swap data repository operations and governance.
FCA and the future of financial conduct regulation
Post-Brexit, FCA Chief Executive Andrew Bailey says the U.K. agency will take a “lower burden” regulatory approach than that of the European Union.
Trump takes another swing at controlling independent agencies
The Trump administration is trying a new strategy to seize control over independent agencies’ rulemaking processes and the guidance they issue.
Uber discloses its bribery and corruption risk
In its first-ever filing with the SEC, ride-sharing company Uber discussed its bribery and corruption risks, including an ongoing investigation by the Department of Justice into potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Fed seeks comments on framework for foreign banks
The Federal Reserve Board is seeking public comments on a regulatory framework that would more closely match the rules for foreign banks with the risks they pose to the U.S. financial system.
Commissioners speak to SEC’s past, and future
Top officials at the SEC shared their agendas and future priorities at the recent SEC Speaks conference. Chairman Jay Clayton gave “a look at the SEC through the eyes of management,” and Commissioner Elad Roisman spoke of “encouraging smaller entrants to capital markets.”
Warren bills seek expanded criminal liability for executives
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has introduced one bill and reintroduced another seeking to hold executives of large corporations criminally responsible when their companies repeatedly violate federal law.
Allison H. Lee, former counsel to Kara Stein, nominated to SEC
President Trump will nominate Allison Herren Lee, of Colorado, to serve at the SEC. Lee, a Democrat, would fill the seat vacated by Kara Stein, restoring the five-member Commission to full strength.
Diamonds not always the FTC’s best friend
The Federal Trade Commission has sent letters to jewelry marketers warning them that some of their advertisements for jewelry made with simulated or laboratory-created diamonds may be in violation of the FTC Act.
CorpFin addresses filings with 'competitively harmful' information
The Securities and Exchange Commission recently adopted new rules that permit registrants to file redacted material contracts without applying for confidential treatment, provided the redacted information is not material and would be competitively harmful if publicly disclosed.
Ask Amii mailbag: Keys to effective, engaging training
Executive coach Amii Barnard-Bahn tackles your questions on compliance training, conducting an ethics health check, and more.
SEC, U.K. strike post-Brexit cooperation deals
The SEC and the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority have reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation and information sharing, even after the latter withdraws from the European Union.
HUD charges Facebook with facilitating housing discrimination
The Department of Housing and Urban Development is charging Facebook with violating the Fair Housing Act by “encouraging, enabling, and causing housing discrimination through the company’s advertising platform.”
Report: FTC, CFPB have blind spots for credit reporting agencies
A report by the Government Accountability Office finds that the FTC and CFPB have oversight and enforcement shortcomings when it comes to credit reporting agencies.
A closer look at the revised FCPA Corporate Enforcement Policy
The Department of Justice in recent months has made several notable revisions to its FCPA Corporate Enforcement Policy surrounding M&A, messaging apps, and much more.
U.S. Chamber ponders quarterly reporting, pitches ‘company files’
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness has entered the fray over potential reforms to the timing and substance of corporate disclosures. Its pitch: a centralized “company file” to replace the current process for delivering investor information.
CFPB resurrects consumer advisory boards
CFPB Director Kathleen Kraninger has reinstated the agency’s consumer advisory boards. It is currently accepting applications for members to serve on those boards, which were disbanded last year by her predecessor.
SEC considers reporting changes for BDCs, closed-end funds
The SEC is pitching rule amendments to improve access to capital and investor communications by business development companies that typically invest in small and developing companies and registered closed-end funds.
SEC adopts amendments, MD&A changes to simplify disclosures
The SEC has adopted amendments to Regulation S-K disclosure requirements and MD&A filings that are intended to improve the readability of company disclosures and to discourage repetition and immaterial information.
FTC clarifies expectations for post-settlement compliance reports
The Federal Trade Commission, increasingly faced with incomplete information and blown deadlines, is laying down the law when it comes to post-settlement compliance reports.
Facebook settles housing discrimination suit, ends ad ‘exclusions’
Facebook will pay $5 million and implement a series of anti-discrimination policies to settle a lawsuit brought against it by national fair-housing advocates.
Despite decades of scrutiny, auditor independence remains a challenge
Even with clear-cut expectations, audit firms still find new and unique ways to run afoul of the SEC’s independence rules. Among the culprits: the money-making potential of non-audit services.
Survey: Companies lag behind with CCPA compliance
With a January 2020 deadline just 10 months away, only 14 percent of companies report they are compliant with the California Consumer Privacy Act. Nearly half have not yet started implementation, says a new survey from TrustArc.
EU whistleblower protections closer to fruition
As EU whistleblower protections inch closer, Neil Hodge provides an in-depth look at exactly what they will cover.
Critics scrutinize plans for revised Volcker Rule
Proposed rulemaking to ease the compliance burden of the Dodd-Frank Act’s controversial Volcker Rule might not be enough to appease everyone.
FSOC seeks changes to nonbank designation guidance
The FSOC has released proposed interpretive guidance regarding nonbank financial firm SIFI designations. It would implement an “activities-based approach” to identifying potential risks to financial stability and provide an “off-ramp” to designated firms.
U.K. gender pay gap reports rife with defects
A new report from U.K. organization paygaps.com says that compliance with gender pay regulations and guidance is still very weak.
FTC proposes consumer data rule changes for financial institutions
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to rules under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act that protect the privacy and security of customer information held by financial institutions.
Dems pitch new bill to impose stock transaction tax
Congressional Democrats have introduced legislation to create a new tax on stock transactions that they say “would generate billions in revenue” while addressing economic inequality and volatility in the market.
FDA singles out Walgreens in nicotine sales crackdown
The FDA is escalating a “forceful” crackdown on retailers and manufacturers that sell nicotine-based products to minors. Among the companies in its crosshairs: Walgreens.
Businesses back NAFTA 2.0, but ratification no slam dunk
While U.S. companies in particular are backing the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, there are some hang ups that make it no shoo-in for ratification by each of the three countries.
CII: Lyft’s planned share structure harms investors
The Council of Institutional Investors is expressing “deep concern” about Lyft’s initial public offering filing, because it implemented a dual-class share structure lacking “sunset provisions to unwind it within a reasonable time period.”
SEC modifies timing for non-public fund reports
With an eye toward improving data management and cyber-security oversight, the SEC has approved changes to the submission deadlines for registered investment companies filing non-public monthly reports.