COVID-19: Latest Securities Regulation Updates

Our Securities Regulation and Enforcement practice is helping market participants navigate a full range of issues raised by COVID-19 in order to maintain ongoing operations, minimize disruption and comply with emerging guidance and regulation in this challenging environment. We are helping clients respond to market volatility in all aspects of their securities, derivative, futures and commodities trading, including issues involving surveillance, short selling, margin and information barriers. We are providing real time and practical advice regarding changes in regulation as well as advising on potential relief from regulatory requirements and drafting no-action letters. Our experience in examinations and enforcement matters enables us to advise clients making rapid decisions under difficult conditions to consider them from the perspective of future regulatory review. We also are advising clients with respect to handling strategic business transactions underway, such as acquisitions and investments involving broker-dealers and fintechs and the related integration process. Business shutdowns have not extended to regulatory activity -- the regulators are continuing examinations, investigations and enforcement activity despite the pandemic. We are assisting clients in ongoing and new investigations, preparing for interviews or testimony, and offering creative solutions for gathering information, producing documents and presenting witnesses under these difficult circumstances. Our team includes alumni of the SEC, CFTC, UK FSA/FCA and FINRA and senior in-house executives who can provide legal, business and practical insights to help clients meet these extraordinary compliance, regulatory and enforcement challenges.