Do Investment Advisers Have a Duty to Non-clients?

There has been an uptick in more sophisticated fraudsters posing as registered representatives, investment advisers and their firms. In December, the SEC charged three individuals with impersonating financial professionals in fraud scheme targeting retail investors. With the money stolen does the victim have a case against the legitimate firm? Mark Frank Harding fell victim to … Read more »

Tweaking the Accredited Investor Standard

The definition of “accredited investor” is at the nexus of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s missions: (1) to protect investors, (2) to maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and (3) to facilitate capital formation.  If you’re an accredited investor you have access to private offerings. That enables capital formation. Private offerings are not subject to … Read more »

The Death of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

Long Live the FCPA!(?) President Trump pulled out his black sharpie and tried to kill the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The President’s executive order on February 10 stated: “Current FCPA enforcement impedes the United States’ foreign policy objectives and therefore implicates the President’s Article II authority over foreign affairs.” So companies should load up their … Read more »