Expert Analysis

• What FINRA Enforcement Changes Mean For Investigations

  

  It is essential for in-house counsel and compliance officers to familiarize themselves with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's recently announced changes to its enforcement program, which offer both clearer visibility into FINRA's expectations and a valuable opportunity to strengthen regulatory readiness, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.

• One Idea To Fix The SEC's Risk Factor Disclosure Rules

  

  U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins recently invited the industry to suggest ways to reform the current risk factor disclosure framework, and amending Rule 10b-5 is one potential option to consider, say attorneys at A&O Shearman.

• Agentic AI Use May Trigger Existing Consumer Finance Laws

  

  As artificial intelligence agents interact more and more with payment systems, financial institutions should be cognizant of how existing consumer protection laws like the Equal Credit Opportunity Act apply when transactions are executed by automated systems rather than individuals, noting authorization and liability gaps, say attorneys at Sheppard.

• SEC Guidance Further Solidifies Status Of Tokenized Assets

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently released a statement that tokenized securities are securities governed by traditional securities laws, representing continued regulatory clarity and the development of expanded technical standards and risk management guidelines that can only improve the long-term viability of financial markets, say attorneys at Barnes & Thornburg.

• 5 Tips For Navigating Your Firm's All-Attorney Summit

  Excerpt from Practical Guidance

  

  Law firm retreats should be approached strategically, as they present valuable opportunities to advance both the firm's objectives and attorneys' professional development through meaningful participation, building and strengthening internal relationships, and proactive follow-up, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

• CFTC's No-Action Relief Fuels Energy Market Competition

  

  The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission recently launched a pilot program aimed at expanding access to energy markets, reflecting a shift toward supporting robust derivatives markets that balance regulatory safeguards with the needs of commodity end users, say attorneys at Moore & Van Allen.

• Opinion

  Clarity Act Would Clear Welcome Pathways For Blockchain

  

  The framework proposed under the Senate Banking Committee's version of the Clarity Act creates reasonable compliance obligations and meaningful token-distribution opportunities that would open the door for more U.S.-based blockchain projects, without the heightened risk of securities litigation and regulatory enforcement, says Karen Ubell at Goodwin.

• AI Is Changing The Game For Lenders' Vendor Governance

  

  Recent guidance from Freddie Mac and the Treasury Department reinforces that expectations surrounding AI oversight are beginning to shape how mortgage lenders operationalize vendor governance, which is emerging as a critical compliance challenge for the decade ahead, says Alexandra Temple at Mitchell Sandler.

• How Data Centers Can Prep For Legal Challenges Amid War

  

  Amid conflict in the Middle East, data centers may now be exposed to state-level kinetic threats, creating significant legal, regulatory and contractual implications, so operators should update their legal and operational frameworks in order to withstand future disruptions and meet the regulator expectations, say attorneys at Baker Botts.

• Series

  Coaching Soccer Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  Coaching youth soccer for my 7-year-old son's team has sharpened how I communicate with clients, prepare witnesses, work within teams and think about leadership, making me a more thoughtful and effective lawyer in many ways, says Joshua Holt at Smith Currie.

• What Texas Anti-Boycott Ruling Means For ESG Landscape

  

  A Texas federal court's recent ruling in American Sustainable Business Council v. Hegar that Texas' anti-ESG law is unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds will likely embolden legal challenges to similar laws in other states that have adopted fossil fuel boycott statutes, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.

• How To Wield The Clarity Act As A Litigation Defense Tool

  

  The Clarity Act is being discussed as a future compliance statute, but for litigators it can be used as a present-day defense tool to strengthen fair‑notice framing, argue for forward‑looking remedies rather than punitive ones and reprice settlement leverage as statutory clarity approaches, say attorneys at Baker McKenzie.

• Series

  Law School's Missed Lessons: The Human Element

  

  Law school teaches you to quickly apply intellect and logic when handling a legal issue, but every fact pattern also involves a person, making the ability to balance expertise with empathy critical to the growth of relationships with clients, colleagues and adversaries, says Rachel Adcox at Adcox Strategies.

• 4 Ways To Help CBP Curb Shell Co. Import Schemes

  

  Shifting to a proactive rather than reactive enforcement posture in addressing shell companies set up to skirt tariffs requires equipping U.S. Customs and Border Protection with enhanced investigative authorities, better intelligence support, and mechanisms to identify and hold accountable the ultimate illicit actors, say attorneys at Kelley Drye.

• Get Smart: Navigating The Genius Act's Regulatory Gaps

  

  While some recent Genius Act rulemaking has covered consumer protection issues within the stablecoin market, the context is generally narrow and the final outcome remains uncertain for financial institutions or companies in the evolving landscape, say attorneys at Paul Hastings.