Securities Law and Going Public Blog

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Insights on securities law, exchange listings, going public, SEC reporting, and market regulation. Stay updated with our latest articles on capital markets compliance, regulatory developments, and strategic guidance for public and private companies.

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OTCQX Listing Requirements for Foreign Issuers in 2026

A comprehensive guide to OTCQX International eligibility, quotation, Rule 15c2-11, Form 211 and ongoing compliance under the April 6, 2026 V11 rules Current through…

How Will an Issuer Know if a FINRA Rule 6490 Company-Related Action Was Processed or Found Deficient?

Submission status is only the beginning After a company-related action request is submitted, FINRA may assign a case number or provide electronic…

Which Company-Related Actions Require a Fee Under FINRA Rule 6490?

Fee categories under Rule 6490 FINRA Rule 6490 identifies specific fees for processing certain corporate action notifications and related requests. The most…

Loose Lips Sink Ships (and IPOs) – SEC Quiet Period

Once a company decides to go public, what it says — and where, when, and to whom it says it — comes…

Talk Is Cheap — Until It Tanks Your IPO: A Guide to IPO Communications and the Quiet Period

Quick answer: what can an issuer say during the IPO quiet period? An issuer can usually continue factual, ordinary-course business communications during…

Reverse Stock Splits for Nasdaq-Listed Companies

A Practical Guide for Issuers, Boards, Counsel, Transfer Agents and Practitioners Under Amended Nasdaq Rule 5250(e)(7) Current through June 18, 2026. Nasdaq-listed…

Nasdaq Definitions Under Listing Rule 5005: Key Terms Issuers Should Know Before Applying to List

Nasdaq listing analysis often begins with financial standards, bid price, public float, shareholder counts and corporate governance. But those standards cannot be…

When Is an Issuer Considered to Have Provided Notification to FINRA Under Rule 6490?

Internal approval is not the same as a FINRA notice An issuer is generally considered to have provided notification when it submits…

MD&A Plan of Operations: SEC Disclosure Guide for Public Companies

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, commonly referred to as MD&A or MDA, is one of the…

Guide to Preparing SEC Form S-1 – A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Overview for Companies Going Public

A Form S-1 registration statement is the central disclosure document used by many companies that want to register securities with the Securities…

When Must an Issuer Notify FINRA of a Company-Related Action Under Rule 6490?

The deadline depends on the action FINRA Rule 6490 separates actions into two broad categories. The first category is an SEA Rule…

Where Can Issuers Find More Information About FINRA Rule 6490?

Start with the official rule text Issuers looking for information about FINRA Rule 6490 should begin with the current text of FINRA…

Nasdaq Compliance: Capital Market Listing Requirements, Corporate Governance and Uplisting Strategy

Why Nasdaq compliance matters A Nasdaq listing can be a major milestone for a public company. It can increase market visibility, broaden…

FINRA Rule 6490: Corporate Actions for OTC Public Companies, Explained

Why Rule 6490 Matters FINRA Rule 6490 is one of the most important rules for public companies whose securities trade over…

Who Handles IPO Marketing? Understanding the Rules for Promoting a Registered Public Offering

Marketing an initial public offering is not the same as marketing an ordinary product launch. In a U.S.-registered IPO, every communication about…

Using Form S-1 to Go Public: A Detailed Breakdown of Regulation S-K Items and SEC Expectations

Form S-1 is the primary registration statement used by issuers under the Securities Act of 1933 to register securities for public sale.…

SEC No-Deny Policy Gets the Boot: What the End of Rule 202.5(e) Means for Enforcement Settlements

The Securities and Exchange Commission has rescinded its long-standing SEC no-deny settlement policy, ending a rule that for more than 50 years…

Rule 701 Stock Issuances While a Form S-1 Is Pending: IPO Equity Grants, Cheap Stock, and SEC 2026 Guidance

Companies going public using a Form S-1 registration statement often continue to issue equity to officers, directors, employees, and consultants while the…

Legal Opinion and SEC Resales: Rule 144 Opinion, Section 4(a)(1) Opinion, and Tradeability Opinion Guide

Why Shareholders Need a Legal Opinion Before Selling Restricted Securities A shareholder may own stock, but that does not always mean the…

Legal Opinion, Rule 144 Opinion and Section 4(a)(1) Opinion: SEC Resale Basics for Restricted Securities

Why SEC Resale Opinions Matter A legal opinion can be a critical step in moving restricted or controlled securities from a blocked…

SEC Legal Opinion Requirements for Registered Offerings: What Issuers Need to Know

A legal opinion is one of the most important documents filed with an SEC registration statement. For issuers conducting registered offerings, the…

Nasdaq $5 Million Minimum Offering Nasdaq amended Listing Rules 5405 and 5505 for IPOs and OTC Uplistings

Nasdaq $5 Million Minimum Offering Proceeds Rule: What IPO and OTC Uplisting Companies Need to Know Nasdaq’s initial listing liquidity rules changed…

Nasdaq SPAC Listing Rules: New 2026 IPO Standards for SPACs on the Nasdaq Global Market and Nasdaq Capital Market

Overview: Nasdaq Raises the Bar for SPAC IPO Listings Nasdaq has adopted enhanced initial listing standards for special purpose acquisition companies, commonly…

SEC Proposes Semiannual Reporting Option for Public Companies

On May 5, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed rule and form amendments that would allow public companies to satisfy their…

Securities Lawyers Gone Wild: SEC Says M&A Deal Files Became an Insider Trading Pipeline

By Securities Lawyer 101 | Securities Lawyers Gone Wild The latest SEC insider trading complaint has many familiar ingredients: confidential merger information,…

Uplisting After Going Public: Moving from OTC to Nasdaq or NYSE (2026 Edition)

The Path from OTC to National Exchange Uplisting from the OTC Markets to Nasdaq or NYSE expands investor access, liquidity, and visibility.…

Understanding the Role of IPO Underwriters in Going Public Transactions

Every initial public offering (IPO) in the United States relies on a team of financial intermediaries known as underwriters. Underwriters are investment banks that…

Top 10 Myths About Going Public

Many believe going public is limited to Fortune 500 giants. In reality, smaller issuers can access public capital through Direct Public Offerings (DPOs), Regulation…

Super 10-K for Delinquent SEC Filings: How to Request SEC Permission, Requirements and Risks

What Is a Super 10-K? How Delinquent SEC Filers Request Relief and the Downside of Using One Issuers that fall behind on…

Going Public Without an Underwriter: The Direct Public Offering Advantage

For small and mid-size companies, the costs, dilution, and loss of control associated with a traditional underwritten Initial Public Offering (IPO) can…

Explore our curated collection of external resources and industry links that complement our blog content. These hand-picked links provide additional perspectives on securities law, market regulations, and business compliance.

FINRA

https://www.finra.org/

Nasdaq

https://www.nasdaq.com/newsroom

NYSE

https://www.nyse.com/markets/resources

Go Public 101

https://www.gopublic101.com/

OTC Markets

https://www.otcmarkets.com/

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog

https://www.securitieslawyer101.com/blog/