The U.S. capital markets have long been a desired goal for foreign companies that are interested in raising funds or establishing a trading market for their securities. Two of the most important laws applicable to companies seeking to… Read More
Last month, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act became law. The FAST Act is primarily a transportation bill but there are changes to the federal securities laws which should assist in the capital raising process… Read More
Securities Lawyer 101 Blog Private companies seeking to go public often use a direct public offering (“Direct Public Offering”). Unlike an Initial Public Offering (“IPO”), a Direct Public Offering allows an issuer to sell its shares directly to investors without… Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that on February 1, 2016, the Honorable Richard Seeborg of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California entered final judgments against defendants eAdGear Holdings Limited, eAdGear, Inc.,… Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that on January 28, 2016, a jury in the federal court in Boston Massachusetts, returned a guilty verdict against Watertown real-estate developer Robert Bray in a criminal trial prosecuted by… Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed an action to enforce compliance with document and testimony subpoenas served upon Jessica Gilbertson in an SEC investigation for possible violations of the securities laws captioned In the Matter… Read More
On December 14, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged a Pittsboro, North Carolina-based startup energy company and two executives with defrauding investors in an unregistered stock offering as they purported that a big influx of capital… Read More
On December 9, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) obtained a court order in its subpoena enforcement action against respondent Steve Karroum that requires Mr. Karroum to sign a written consent for the release of his e-mails from… Read More
On December 2, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Robert Seibert with operating a multi-year offering fraud that targeted elderly investors. According to the SEC’s complaint: Seibert, who was previously charged by the SEC in 1993… Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged a California-licensed attorney and a stock promoter behind a pump-and-dump scheme that defrauded investors in Greenway Technology, a Las Vegas-based company purporting to operate resorts for gay and lesbian travelers. The… Read More
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued an order approving of the terms of a proposed settlement between the SEC and Covenant Partners, L.P., a Philadelphia-area private equity fund.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) obtained a summary judgment against former Enron president, COO, and CEO Jeffrey Skilling to conclude its civil case that was stayed by the court starting in 2004 until the outcome of criminal… Read More
On December 4, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed suit against Trudy Gilmond for her participation in the unregistered offer and sale of securities through Rex Venture Group LLC d/b/a ZeekRewards.com, an internet-based combined Ponzi… Read More
It’s that time of year again when companies filing reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that have a December 31st year end, must file their annual report on Form 10-K. Recent enforcement actions against SEC filers and insiders… Read More
The SEC filed a complaint alleging that Hui Feng and his firm, Law Offices of Feng & Associates P.C., acted as unregistered brokers by selling EB-5 investments to over 100 foreign investors, who were also their legal clients,… Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) won a case involving a Ponzi scheme. According to the SEC Wayne Palmer and his company National Note of Utah. The SEC filed fraud charges against them in June 2012 in connection with the Ponzi… Read More
On November 25, 2015, the SEC filed a subpoena enforcement action against NetCirq, LLC (“NetCirq”). According to the SEC’s application and supporting papers, the SEC is investigating whether NetCirq and others have violated or are violating provisions of the federal… Read More
In February 2015, Felix Sater proudly announced the debut of a new website. As he puts it, it “showcases [his] accomplishments, contributions, musings, and availability.” Though Sater describes himself as a veteran of the commercial real estate… Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that the Court entered a final judgment against Defendant Chad Smanjak on November 23, 2015 in SEC v. Ruettiger, et al., Civil Action No. 1:11-CV-02011, a penny stock manipulation case the… Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on November 19, 2015 that it has obtained a court order freezing the assets of a South Florida woman and her company accused of purchasing a boat and luxury cars with… Read More
On December 1, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the entry of a Consent Order (“Order”) halting an alleged ongoing investment fraud by James Torchia and various related entities involving the sale of promissory notes and… Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that on September 29, 2015, a final judgment was entered against Efstratios “Elias” Argyropoulos of Santa Barbara, California, and his solely owned company, Prima Capital Group, Inc. In addition to the… Read More
On December 1, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged two Bitcoin mining companies and their founder with conducting a Ponzi scheme that used the lure of quick riches from virtual currency to defraud their investors…. Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced an asset freeze obtained against two people in San Bernardino, California accused of defrauding Chinese investors who invested in their related companies in an effort to obtain U.S. residency through the… Read More
On November 12, 2015, a federal court in Boston, Massachusetts, entered a final judgment against Tropikgadget FZE and Tropikgadget Unipessoal LDA (collectively, “Tropikgadget”) of Portugal, defendants in a previously-filed enforcement action. In February 2015, the SEC charged Tropikgadget operating under the… Read More
On November 17, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Steven Watson with insider trading fraud, claiming he illegally profited from news of a proposed acquisition of Cooper Tire and Rubber Company by Apollo Tyres Ltd. Earlier this year, the… Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it has obtained final judgments against a former Los Angeles-based immigration attorney, his wife, his former law firm partner and five entities he controlled for conducting an investment scheme to… Read More
On November 12, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that the Court awarded summary judgment and entered a final judgment in favor of the SEC against defendants Brett Cooper, Global Funding Systems LLC, Dream Holdings, LLC,… Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that on November 5, 2015 an emergency enforcement action was filed in federal district court against Earl Miller (Miller) and two private investment vehicles that he controlled, 5 Star Commercial, LLC… Read More
On December 7, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a series of enforcement actions against lawyers across the country charged with offering EB-5 investments while not registered to act as brokers. In one case, a lawyer and his firm… Read More