The Securities and Exchange Commission announced the withdrawal of a policy that granted the Director of Enforcement the authority to initiate new investigations and approve the issuance of subpoenas. The former policy was created in 2009, which essentially allowed the Director to legally permit the SEC staff to open an Read More
A Chicago-based nonprofit organization, Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT), filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and his administration challenging the executive orders that aimed to limit and restrict federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The CWIT’s complaint alleges that those executive orders infringe on its constitutional rights to free Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced the rescission of guidelines, established during Gary Gensler’s tenure as Chair of the agency, that governed the exclusion of certain shareholder proposals from proxy statements, marking a shift that favors companies in shareholder proposal exclusions. The SEC announced its decision in a Staff Legal Read More
GUEST BLOG POST Money laundering facilitates crime, threatens our national security, distorts markets, and has a devastating economic and social impact on citizens, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Financial institutions are required to do their part to combat these threats. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a Read More
President Donald Trump signed an executive order that directs the Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to cease enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) a law that prohibits American companies from bribing foreign officials. President Trumps said he believes that by issuing such an order, he will restore American competitiveness Read More
The Department of Justice announced that it will consider conducting criminal and civil investigations against companies with diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in place. This announcement came from a memorandum released by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The memo states that its purpose is to encompass programs, initiatives, or policies that Read More
Securities and Exchange Commission Acting Chairman Mark Uyeda launched a “Crypto Task Force” dedicated to developing a comprehensive and clear regulatory framework for cryptocurrency assets. The task force will dedicate itself to developing a “comprehensive and clear regulatory framework for crypto assets.” The task force’s focus will be to assist Read More
President Donald Trump has terminated the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Rohit Chopra, and has designated Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, as Acting Director of the CFPB. Chopra was appointed as director during the Biden administration in 2021, committing himself to making the financial system more reasonable Read More
The U.S. Senate announced its confirmation of Lee Zeldin as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin, who served on President Trump’s legal defense team during his first impeachment, was nominated by the President to lead the EPA. Zeldin previously served in the New York State Senate from 2011-2014 and Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it has approved a Nasdaq proposal to remove a rule that requires companies to disclose board diversity data. This announcement follows a ruling from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in which the court found such disclosure requirements unlawful. Under the original board Read More
