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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Securities Attorney Matthew C McMurdo suspended by the SEC

On September 20, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or “Commission”) issued an Administrative Order against securities attorney Matthew C.…

SEC Charges Multiple Individuals and Entities in Relationship Investment Scams

On September 17, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC“) charged five entities and three individuals in connection with two relationship…

Commissioner Mark Uyeda Dissents in Unregistered Dealer SEC Enforcement Action

In his dissent, Uyeda seems to accept the generally accepted description of variable-rate convertible notes as "toxic" and "death spiral" financings that…

Mullen Automotive (MULN): What to Do About Serial Reverse Splitters

At noon on September 13, 2024—Friday the 13th—Mullen Automotive (MULN) announced a 1:100 reverse stock split to become effective on September 17…

SEC Charges Seven NASDAQ Listed Public Companies with Violations of Whistleblower Protection Rule

On September 9, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced settled charges against seven public companies for using employment, separation,…

Are SEC Whistleblower Awards the Road to Riches or a Waste of Time?

On August 23, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced It had awarded a total of $98 million to two SEC…

Court Vacates Order in Unregistered Dealer, Crown Bridge Partners Case

On August 19, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second District in New York ruled in the case of…

SEC Charges OTC Link LLC with Failing to File Suspicious Activity Reports

On August 12, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC“) announced charges against OTC Link LLC, a New York-based broker-dealer, for failing…

Cassava Sciences (SAVA) Faces an Indictment and at Least Two Investigations

Cassava Sciences (SAVA) is a Nasdaq issuer that claims to have developed a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease; the product is currently in…

Meta Materials (MMAT) Declares Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

On Friday, August 9, 2024, Meta Materials Inc. (MMAT) filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This turn of events was reported only in…

SEC Charges Ideanomics, its former Chairman and CEO, Zheng (Bruno) Wu, current CEO, Alfred Poor, and former CFO, Federico Tovar with Accounting and Disclosure Fraud

On August 9, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC“) announced settled fraud charges against Ideanomics, Inc., formerly known as Seven Stars…

SEC Awards Whistleblower a Bounty of More Than $37 Million

On July 26, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced an award of more than $37 million to a whistleblower whose…

OTC Markets Group Guidance on Dilution Risk with Respect to OTCQX and OTCQB Applicants

OTC Markets offers three unique marketplaces for trading over-the-counter (OTC) stocks: the OTC Pink Market, the OTCQB Market and the OTCQX Market.…

Attorney Mark Basile to Participate in Federal Enforcement Action SEC v. Carebourn Capital L.P. and Chip Alvin Rice

Over the past seven years or so, we’ve followed the Securities and Exchange Commission’s efforts to rein in the excesses of predatory…

Andrew Left of Citron Research Indicted by the DOJ and Charged by the SEC

On July 26, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced litigation filed against activist short seller Andrew Left and his firm, Citron…

Important Changes Are in Store for the SEC and Other Federal Agencies

Last week, the Supreme Court handed down two opinions that have the potential to limit the authority of the Securities and Exchange…

Does FINRA Rule 6490 Impact Going Public Transactions?

FINRA Rule 6490 has had an important impact on going public transactions specifically reverse mergers with public shell companies.

Benefits of Direct Public Offerings

While going public offers many benefits, it also comes with risks and a large number of regulations with which issuers must become…

Xeriant, Inc. Fights Toxic Funder Auctus Fund in Appellate Court

Since 2017, the SEC has been bringing enforcement actions intended to curb the excesses of lenders who deal in convertible securities like…

Meta Materials Executives, John Brda and George Palikaras, charged with Market Manipulation, Fraud and Other Violations

Thanks to an SEC Complaint filed today, MMTLP shareholders finally have the undisputable evidence needed to point their previously misguided blame for…

What are the SEC Reporting Requirements After My Form S-1 is Effective?

Once the SEC staff declares your company’s Securities Act registration statement on Form S-1 effective, the company becomes subject to the SEC’s…

SEC Regulation D Rule 506(b) and Regulation D Rule 506(c)

Each offer and sale of a security must be (a) registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); or (b) subject…

Going Public Using an S-1

Using a Form S-1 Registration Statement to Go Public Private companies that go public commonly use a registration statement (“Registration Statement”) on…

Court denies James L. Koutoulas’ petition to quash SEC subpoena

On May 23, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida granted the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC“)…

Why use a Direct Public Offering (DPO) to Go Public on the OTC Markets

An Initial Public Offering or IPO is used by issuers seeking to go public using an underwriter. IPOs are typically conducted by…

11th Circuit Upholds Unregistered Dealer Justin Keener SEC Judgment

On May 29, 2024, the U.S. Court Of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit entered its Opinion in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s…

Tips For Going Public With A Direct Public Offering

More and more issuers going public opt for a direct public offering. Unlike an Initial Public Offering (IPO), in a direct public offering, the issuer sells…

SEC Obtains $5.9 Million Judgment Against John Fierro in Unregistered Penny Stock Dealer Case

On May 21, 2024, Judge Georgette Castner of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey entered a final…

Are You Ready? T+1 Trade Settlement Begins Next Week

On May 21, 2024, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler formally announced the U.S. securities market’s switch to a T+1 standard…

PCAOB Imposes a $400,000 Fine and Sanctions MaloneBailey, LLP for Pervasive Quality Control Violations

Less than a month after one of the biggest auditing firms in the public markets, BF Borgers, and its owner, Benjamin Borgers,…

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/

JOBS Act 101

https://www.jobsact101.com/

Go Public 101

https://www.gopublic101.com/

OTC Markets

https://www.otcmarkets.com/

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog

https://ppe.securitieslawyer101.com/blog/

Securities & Exchange Commission

https://www.sec.gov/