SEC Developments

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Following the 2016 election, it has been widely assumed that the SEC’s Division of Enforcement would no longer pursue the “broken windows” policy implemented under then-SEC Chair Mary Jo White.  Under that approach, the Division of Enforcement intentionally pursued smaller, non-fraud cases in an attempt to improve the overall compliance culture within the securities industry.  Pronouncements this fall by the Co-Directors of the Division of Enforcement, Stephanie Avakian and Steven Peikin, on their face confirm that assumption, suggesting an end to “broken windows” as a broad-based strategy focused on street-wide sweeps for strict liability and other non-scienter conduct.  However, signs persist that the Enforcement Division will continue to pursue some varieties of non-scienter cases, particularly where there exists, even indirectly, the potential for harm to retail investors.
Continue Reading Is the SEC’s Broken Windows Initiative Over? The Picture Is Somewhat Mixed.

On October 26, the SEC staff provided, in three related no-action letters, a 30-month grace period during which it will not pursue enforcement actions against U.S. broker-dealers and their client money managers subject to European Union regulations, including investment advisers, for accepting or making direct and separate (i.e., hard dollar) payments for research.  This grace period temporarily relieves a regulatory conflict concerning how market participants provide and pay for research between current U.S. securities laws and the European Union’s new Markets in Finance Instruments Directive (MiFID II) rules, which will take effect on January 3, 2018.
Continue Reading The SEC’s Temporary Enforcement Grace Period to Mitigate Legal Status and Operational Implementation Issues Over the EU’s New Research Regulation