As of 12:01 am on October 1, 2025, congressionally appropriated funding lapsed for most operations of the United States government. Though the government has shut down, business continues, and market participants that need to interact with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in order to complete a transaction may encounter delays. Below is a
Capital Markets
Corp Fin Allows “Auto-Voting” for Retail Shareholders
On September 15, 2025, the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission said that it will not recommend enforcement action if Exxon Mobil Corporation implements its proposed Retail Voting Program. See the no-action letter available here. Exxon’s proposed program would allow its retail shareholders to set standing voting…
Nasdaq Proposes to Allow Trading of Tokenized Securities
On September 8, 2025, the Nasdaq Stock Market submitted a proposed rule change to the Securities and Exchange Commission that, if implemented, would allow for the trading and settlement of tokenized securities. Nasdaq points out that even traditional securities are traded in electronic format, and that it should not be a stretch to allow settlement using…
SEC Releases Unsurprising But Ambitious Spring 2025 Regulatory Agenda
- Crypto assets:
The Recently-Announced U.S. Tariffs Followed By a 90-Day Pause: Frequently Asked Questions
These “frequently asked questions” explain tariffs at a basic level, the Administration’s recently-announced new tariffs, its announced a 90-day “pause” on certain of the new tariffs, and how the new tariffs will impact U.S. companies.
We start with the basics below, then address what we currently believe is happening and what the near-term future…
Proskauer Hedge Fund Trading Guide — Chapter 4: Stock Acquisitions: Key Requirements and Timing Considerations of Hart-Scott-Rodino
Proskauer’s Practical Guide to the Regulation of Hedge Fund Trading Activities offers a concise, easy-to-read overview of the trading issues and questions we commonly encounter when advising hedge funds and their managers. It is written not only for lawyers, but also for investment professionals, support staff and others interested in gaining a quick understanding of the recurring trading issues we tackle for clients, along with the solutions and analyses we have developed over our decades-long representation of hedge funds and their managers.
The SEC Under Paul Atkins – What to Expect for Registered and Private Offerings, Climate-Related Disclosure, Consolidated Audit Trail, Digital Assets, and Agency Re-Organization
Paul Atkins, who has been nominated by President Trump to serve as Chairperson of the Securities & Exchange Commission, last week completed a short confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee. Despite its brevity, the hearing provided meaningful clues to Mr. Atkin’s plans if he is confirmed by the Senate to lead the SEC, which appears reasonably assured to occur. On April 3, 2025, the Senate Banking Committee approved his nomination with a vote 13 to 11.
Paul Atkins previously served on the staff of SEC Chairman Richard Breeden, as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008, and as a member of the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP following the 2008 financial crisis. Most recently, he founded and ran a regulatory and compliance consulting company.
The SEC Votes to “End its Defense” of Climate Change Rules
As previously reported, SEC Asks Court to Put Climate Change Litigation on Hold, the SEC had asked the court to suspend litigation in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit challenging its new climate change disclosure rules. Last week, the Commission announced that it had voted to “end” its defense of…
SEC Eases Verification Burdens in Rule 506(c) Offerings
The SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance recently issued an interpretive letter[1] providing additional insight as to what constitutes “reasonable steps” to verify an investor’s accredited investor status under Rule 506(c) of Regulation D, a private offering exemption that permits general solicitation. Compared to Rule 506(b), which does not permit general solicitation, Rule 506(c) is…
Ping-Pong Match Appears Over: US Companies Apparently Definitively Relieved of Compliance Obligations Under the Corporate Transparency Act
The Corporate Transparency Act (the CTA) requires a range of entities, primarily smaller, unregulated companies, to file reports with FinCen, and arm of the Treasury Department, identifying the entities’ beneficial owners, and the persons who formed the entity. The purpose of the CTA was to aid in the detection of terrorism, money-laundering, and tax evasion. …