Expert Analysis

• Blockchain Tech's Role As A Driver Of M&A Action Evolves

  

  Distributed ledger and other blockchain derivative technologies are uniquely positioned to drive M&A activity, and will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of financial and investment landscapes despite the turmoil in the cryptocurrency space, say Louis Lehot and Pat Daugherty at Foley & Lardner.

• Opinion

  Regulators Must Avert Overreach When Targeting AI

  

  As financial regulators pursue artificial intelligence policy and related regulation, they should be wary of counterproductive interventions, which may stymie technology that could enhance forecasts and better reach the historically underrepresented, says Jack Solowey at the Cato Institute.

• ABA's Money-Laundering Resolution Is A Balancing Act

  

  While the American Bar Association’s recently passed resolution recognizes a lawyer's duty to discontinue representation that could facilitate money laundering and other fraudulent activity, it preserves, at least for now, the delicate balance of judicial, state-based regulation of the legal profession and the sanctity of the attorney-client relationship, say attorneys at Ballard Spahr.

• 2 High Court Cases Could Upend Administrative Law Bedrock

  

  Next term, the U.S. Supreme Court will be deciding two cases likely to change the nature and shape of agency-facing litigation in perpetuity, and while one will clarify or overturn Chevron, far more is at stake in the other, say Dan Wolff and Henry Leung at Crowell & Moring.

• Future Of NFTs Uncertain As SEC Takes Hawkish Approach

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent and first non-fungible token enforcement action against Impact Theory raises questions about the future of digital assets and the SEC's broad interpretation of securities law, and there will be no safe space for digital assets until courts or Congress clarify the issue, says Alex More at Carrington Coleman.

• Law Firm Professional Development Steps To Thrive In AI Era

  

  As generative artificial intelligence tools rapidly evolve, professional development leaders are instrumental in preparing law firms for the paradigm shifts ahead, and should consider three strategies to help empower legal talent with the skills required to succeed in an increasingly complex technological landscape, say Steve Gluckman and Anusia Gillespie at SkillBurst Interactive.

• 5 Takeaways From SEC's First Marketing Rule Action

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent settlement — the first under the amended marketing rule — with Titan Global on charges that the fintech company misled investors shows investment advisers that they should expect close scrutiny of marketing materials and that their questions will only be answered through SEC enforcement, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.

• Previewing Big Changes To NY's Finance Cybersecurity Rules

  

  With the New York State Department of Financial Services likely to significantly amp up its cybersecurity requirements for financial institutions later this year, covered entities should prepare to adapt their technical security safeguards and employee protocols to comply with the proposed amendments, say attorneys at Squire Patton.

• Lessons From High-Profile Witness Tampering Allegations

  

  As demonstrated by recent developments in the cases against former President Donald Trump and FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, allegations of witness tampering can carry serious consequences — but attorneys can employ certain strategies to mitigate the risk that accusations arise, says Kenneth Notter at MoloLamken.

• Understanding China's Crypto-Blockchain Dichotomy

  

  Even as China restricts cryptocurrency use, its actions frequently support blockchain as a complementary technology to real economy sectors, which is why the blockchain-cryptocurrency distinction is core to understanding the country's relationship with these technologies, say attorneys at Cravath.

• SEC's New Rules Likely Will Affect Cyber, D&O Insurance

  

  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently adopted cybersecurity incident disclosure rules that could create new challenges that affect how public companies assess the risk of securities, corporate governance and cyber-related lawsuits, which may implicate novel insurance coverage issues, say attorneys at Reed Smith.

• If Binance Criminally Charged, Crypto Exchanges May Exit US

  

  Unlike recent government enforcement actions against Ripple Labs and Terraform, which were isolated to those companies, should the U.S. Department of Justice pursue criminal charges against industry go-to crypto exchange Binance, it could mean exchanges deciding to stop servicing the U.S., says Andrew St. Laurent at Harris St. Laurent.

• Opinion

  How Regulation E Could Complicate Crypto Compliance

  

  Although several factors suggest Regulation E is a poorly suited framework to potentially regulate cryptocurrency, it appears to be under consideration by lawmakers and regulators — and increasing scrutiny underscores the need for fintechs to maintain robust compliance programs, say Edward Somers and Melina Montellanos at Orrick.

• Schumer Framework May Forge US Model On AI Governance

  

  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's proposed SAFE Innovation Framework may have the potential to generate thoughtful understanding and governance of artificial intelligence within a meaningful time frame, say Alan Charles Raul and Rimsha Syeda at Sidley.

• Fair Lending Activity: Calm On The Surface, Churning Below

  

  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's recently released annual fair lending report to Congress confirms that despite the paucity of public fair lending enforcement actions in 2022, the CFPB and prudential banking agencies are engaged in significant nonpublic oversight, examination and enforcement activities, say attorneys at Cooley.