Latest Crypto Bill Draft Updates DeFi Rules But Not Ethics

By Aislinn Keely

Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., on Thursday shared an updated draft of the Clarity Act that tweaked the crypto market structure bill's provisions around decentralized finance but left unaltered ethics language critical to winning Democrat support ahead of next week's cloture vote.

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Bankman-Fried Asks Justices To Review His Fraud Conviction

By Rae Ann Varona

Incarcerated FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to review the Second Circuit's decision affirming his fraud conviction and $11 billion forfeiture order, saying now is the time to resolve whether evidence of fraud victims' losses belongs in fraudulent-inducement prosecutions and whether his "crushing fine" is constitutional.

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SEC Must Police Some Event Contracts: Citadel Securities

By Aislinn Keely

Citadel Securities told federal derivatives and securities regulators that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission should take the lead on oversight of event contracts and other wagers when they're linked to public companies or equities.

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Regulators Expand Examination Cycle For More Banks

By Katryna Perera

Nearly 200 banks may receive some relief from annual regulatory exams under a new interagency rule published Thursday that amends the eligibility requirements for an 18-month on-site examination cycle, instead of 12 months.

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Treasury Clearinghouse's Stress Fund Delayed By SEC Review

By Jessica Corso

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday it needs more time to determine whether an agency that clears U.S. Treasury securities can set up a new fund to mitigate against member bankruptcy, with smaller brokerage firms complaining they would be forced to foot the bill for the clearinghouse's largest members.

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Fed Colluded With Wall Street On New Capital Rules, Suit Says

By Katryna Perera

The Federal Reserve Board and its vice chair for supervision, Michelle Bowman, were sued on Thursday by Wall Street reform group Better Markets Inc., which alleges Bowman secretly met with the heads of Wall Street giants to manipulate the newly proposed U.S. bank capital rules.

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BitConnect Promoter To Pay $1.9M In SEC Settlement

By Sydney Price

A cryptocurrency promoter was ordered by a New York federal judge to pay over $1.9 million to end claims from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that he recruited investors into a $2 billion unregistered cryptocurrency lending program, marking the end of litigation launched in 2021.

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Squires Grants 10 Patent Reviews, Rejects None

By Dani Kass

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director John Squires has instituted 10 more Patent Trial and Appeal Board petitions, largely in the pharmaceutical space.

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Boutique Bellementis Brings On Ex-FINRA Enforcer

By Katryna Perera

A former senior Financial Industry Regulatory Authority enforcement attorney has joined the boutique firm Bellementis PLLC as a partner in Washington, D.C.

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AI And AML: Rulemakings Lean Into Responsible Innovation

Recent federal rulemaking increasingly supports deployment of artificial intelligence tools for anti-money laundering compliance purposes, and institutions that build clear use and governance frameworks will be best positioned to defend programs when AI systems err, say attorneys at Paul Hastings.

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Voyager Ruling Maps Out Ch. 11 Exculpation Lessons

Chapter 11 plan proponents drafting exculpation provisions may benefit from contrasting the exculpatory language recently invalidated by a New York federal court in the Voyager Digital Holdings case with successful recent use of these provisions in confirmed bankruptcy plans, say attorneys at Debevoise.

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Series

Juggling And Unicycling Make Me A Better Lawyer

Because I juggle (sometimes with fire) and ride the unicycle, friends and family used to joke that I should join the circus, but I pursued the practice of law instead and learned that my hobbies benefit my profession in several important ways, says Morgan Eddy at Smith Currie.

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ABA Study Shows 20% Of Attys Under Severe Mental Distress

By Tracey Read

About one-fifth of attorneys across the country meet moderate-to-extremely severe symptom thresholds for depression, anxiety and stress, according to the largest-ever study of mental health and well-being in the legal profession.

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Mass. Judge Sanctioned Over Handling Of ICE At Courthouse

By Julie Manganis

Massachusetts' highest court on Thursday sanctioned a judge over her handling of a case involving a defendant wanted by immigration agents in 2018, an incident that led to federal charges that were dismissed after the judge agreed to a disciplinary process.

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Ed Martin Reprimanded Over Unauthorized FBI Contacts

By Courtney Bublé

Last summer, when Ed Martin was still head of the weaponization working group at the U.S. Department of Justice, he was reprimanded after his team communicated with the FBI without authorization, according to recently released emails.

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2 At DOJ Sued Over Conn. Immigration Court Record Access

By Christine DeRosa

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Connecticut has filed suit in Connecticut federal court challenging the Hartford Immigration Court's refusal to provide access to immigration court records.

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JPMorgan Aided Ex-Atty Kossoff's $18.5M Theft, Trustee Says

By Hailey Konnath

The Chapter 7 trustee representing bankrupt firm Kossoff PLLC on Wednesday sued JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, claiming the bank helped the firm's principal steal at least $18.5 million from clients, and it "should be made to account."

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Analysis

Executive Privilege Questions Cloud Congressional Probe Prep

By Phillip Bantz

As corporate leaders brace for the possibility of Democrats retaking control of Congress and launching aggressive investigations into the Trump administration's dealings with a vast array of companies, attorneys say a U.S. Justice Department opinion on executive privilege could complicate the probes.

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DOJ Urges High Court To Revisit 9th Circ.'s Bar Of Nev. US Atty

By Madison Arnold

The Justice Department has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit a recent Ninth Circuit ruling disqualifying the Trump administration's top federal prosecutor in Nevada, calling it a decision that imposes "ongoing confusion" in the executive branch.

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Jay-Z Can't Undo Buzbee's Win In Rapper's Defamation Suit

By Y. Peter Kang

A California state appeals court has refused to revive claims that Texas attorney Tony Buzbee defamed and extorted music superstar Jay-Z by roping him into a sexual abuse suit against Sean "Diddy" Combs, saying the case was properly thrown out under California's free speech statute.

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