Capital Markets

Expert Analysis

• What To Expect Under New SEC Enforcement Director Grewal

  

  Newly appointed U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Director of Enforcement Gurbir Grewal’s record as a public servant provides insight into the SEC’s likely priorities for the coming year, and firms should expect him to work closely with Chair Gary Gensler in pursuing an aggressive enforcement agenda, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

• Law Firms, Know Who's Responsible For Your Cloud Security

  

  Lawyers generally know that files go into the cloud and that the files are then secured and protected, but it's necessary for firms to take a closer look at their cloud supply chain and then come up with a responsibility matrix that helps mitigate any potential risks or weaknesses, says Martin Ward at iManage.

• Benefits For Law Firms Venturing Into New Services

  

  By offering more services, law firms can deepen and strengthen their client relationships and truly become an extension of their clients' teams while generating new revenue streams, and while there are risks associated with expanding into consulting, they may be worth it, says Lou Ramos at Major Lindsey.

• How Anti-Corruption Push Affects US Cos. Operating Abroad

  

  A recent Biden administration memo, and an anticipated increase in enforcement related to transnational fraud, money laundering and corruption, means that U.S. companies and financial institutions with operations abroad should take concrete steps to stave off U.S. Department of Justice scrutiny, says Andrey Spektor at Bryan Cave.

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  Embracing ESG: Exelon GC Talks Diversity Initiatives

  

  Executing a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion programming, through recruitment, inclusive legal pipelines and community empowerment via pro bono efforts, can ensure a strong environmental, social and governance proposition, says Gayle Littleton at Exelon.

• How Wyoming Is Leading On Cryptocurrency

  

  This month, Wyoming became the first state to classify decentralized autonomous organizations as a new form of LLC, which could bring new liability principles and chip away at Delaware's dominance as the corporate capital of the U.S., says Emily DiBenedetto at Shaw Keller.

• Recent SPAC Settlement Signals SEC Enforcement Wave

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent settlement with special purpose acquisition company Stable Road — and its sponsor, CEO and proposed merger target — over false representations to investors illustrates the agency's heightened focus on policing SPAC transactions and should prompt participants to ensure adequate due diligence, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

• Revamping Law Firm Marketing Lists — With Partner Buy-In

  

  Jackson Lewis’ Paige Bowser shares lessons from the firm's recent overhaul of an outdated email marketing database, including tips for getting partners on board, ensuring compliance with privacy laws and augmenting outreach strategies.

• The Murky World Of Legal Rankings Gets Some Clarity In NJ

  

  New Jersey's new, stringent approach to legal rankings will make accolade advertising more transparent, benefiting both attorneys and clients and offering legal marketers a new set of best practices amid evolving standards, say Penny Paul at Lowenstein Sandler and Susan Peters at Greybridge.

• Awaiting High Court Answer On Post-Cyan Discovery Issue

  

  The U.S. Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision in Pivotal Software v. Tran next term may clarify a question begat by the court’s 2018 Cyan decision — whether the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act’s automatic discovery stay provision applies in state courts — and thereby lessen the burden on parties litigating amid the ambiguity, says Liz Cassady at Steptoe & Johnson.

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  Embracing ESG: Cigna Counsel Talks Employee Wellness

  

  Building employee well-being into corporate environmental, social and governance priorities required our legal team to focus more closely on cross-functional collaboration within the company and increased communication with our board of directors and shareholders, says Julia Brncic at Cigna.

• FINRA Shows Subtle Shift On Evaluating Best Execution

  

  McGuireWoods’ Elizabeth Hogan and Alexander Madrid analyze the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's recent notice on best execution and payment for order flow, identifying an isolated focus on price that pivots from prior guidance emphasizing a more holistic approach.

• Hybrid Work Models Are Key To Gender Parity In Law Firms

  

  To curb the historically high rates of attrition among female lawyers, Roberta Liebenberg at Fine Kaplan and Stephanie Scharf at Scharf Banks suggest firms must normalize hybrid work schedules, and they recommend best practices to promote engagement among all attorneys, regardless of where they work.

• How UK Binance Ban Is Putting Cryptocurrency On Notice

  

  The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority's ban on Binance Group, following concerns about insufficient oversight, conveys a significant warning that regulatory scrutiny on cryptocurrency exchanges is increasing and also that crypto users should exercise caution in their transactions, says Josie Welland at Rahman Ravelli.

• Credit-Sensitive Rates Could Allay Libor Transition Hurdles

  

  Adopting a Libor replacement requires careful understanding of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate's performance issues, comprehensive price term negotiation, and consideration of alternative benchmarks — like Ameribor — whose base rate and credit spread advantages come in contrast to U.S. banking officials' recent critiques of credit-sensitive rates, says Jeffrey Armstrong at Berkeley Research.