Compliance & Ethics

SEC Chairman Gary Gensler to Step Down on January 20th, 2025

Gary Gensler, the 33rd Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), announced today that he will step down from his position on January 20, 2025. Gensler, who has served as Chairman since April 2021, has overseen a series of significant regulatory reforms during his tenure.

OCC Tightens the Reins with November 2024 Enforcement Actions

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has turned up the heat on banks and individuals flouting regulatory expectations, unveiling a slate of enforcement actions for November 2024. These measures not only aim to rectify serious lapses in compliance but also signal the OCC’s unrelenting commitment to upholding the integrity of the national banking system.

BaFin Imposes €300,000 Administrative Fine on Pearl Gold AG for Financial Reporting Failures

The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) imposed an administrative fine of €300,000 on Pearl Gold AG. The sanction stems from the company’s failure to meet critical financial reporting obligations under the German Securities Trading Act (Wertpapierhandelsgesetz – WpHG), a key piece of legislation governing financial transparency for companies listed in Germany.

SEC Charges Adani Executives & Azure Power Director in Massive Bribery Scandal

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dropped the hammer on three senior executives at Adani Green Energy Ltd. and Azure Power Global Ltd. for allegedly orchestrating a sprawling bribery scheme. The charges, which involve shady dealings to secure a lucrative solar energy project, are as much a cautionary tale as they are a stark reminder of the stakes in global business.

Dell & Iron Bow to Pay $4.3 Million to Settle False Claims Allegations Over Army Contracts

Dell Technologies and Iron Bow Technologies have agreed to pay a combined total of $4.3 million to resolve allegations of submitting non-competitive bids under a U.S. Army contract. The settlement addresses claims that the two companies overcharged the Army through a scheme that undermined the integrity of the Army’s procurement process.

Drexel Hamilton Fined & Censured for Falsifying Retail Bond Orders

Drexel Hamilton, a well-known broker-dealer, is facing serious penalties from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after it was found to have misrepresented retail orders during new issue municipal bond offerings. The firm has been censured, fined $300,000, and ordered to return over $837,000 in profits from its improper practices, which were conducted between 2016 and 2018.

Bribes, Resorts, & the High Price of Corruption: BIT Mining’s FCPA Scandal

What happens when a company bets big on bribery but loses the house? For BIT Mining Ltd., the answer is a bruising encounter with U.S. regulators. Formerly known as 500.com, the Chinese company has found itself at the heart of a sprawling corruption scandal, accused of paying nearly $2 million in bribes to Japanese officials to win a coveted casino contract. But the deal didn’t pan out, and now BIT Mining is paying the price— both financially and in terms of its reputation.