SEC Pay-to-Play

A $12 million settlement announced last week by the Securities & Exchange Commission suggests that the SEC will aggressively pursue alleged schemes connecting political contributions to government contracts even if the political contributions do not violate its 2010 pay-to-play rule.  According to the settlement order, in 2010, the head of…
Continue Reading SEC Issues Fines for Pay-to-Play Violations That Predate Its Pay-to-Play Rule

Yesterday’s D.C. Circuit opinion upholding the SEC’s burdensome “pay-to-play” rule on procedural grounds is bad news for those questioning the rule’s constitutionality.  Nevertheless, the rule is still far from invincible.

The SEC pay-to-play rule, among other things, effectively prohibits investment firm executives from making certain political contributions to state and…
Continue Reading What’s Next for the SEC Pay-to-Play Rule Challenge?

The Wagner case, decided today by the D.C. Circuit, is important because of its analysis of the constitutionality of federal campaign contribution restrictions and, by extension, of pay-to-play laws generally. Covington has been monitoring this case since the district court decision in 2012, to the argument before the D.C. Circuit…
Continue Reading Highlights from Wagner; D.C. Circuit Upholds Contributions Restrictions But Limits Ruling

A constitutional challenge to the SEC’s “pay to play” rule moved one step closer to resolution today, even as significant hurdles remain in an effort to strike down the rule.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard arguments this morning on an appeal brought by…
Continue Reading D.C. Circuit Hears Constitutional Challenge to SEC Pay to Play Rule

When the history of the Securities & Exchange Commission’s pay-to-play rule is written, 2014 could be the inflection point.  Developments this year suggest two dramatically different paths for the rule in the years to come: either the rule will unravel from court challenges or it will become an increasingly prominent…
Continue Reading The SEC Pay-to-Play Rule Year in Review

In an important decision, the US District Court for the District of Columbia yesterday dismissed a constitutional challenge to the SEC’s “pay to play” rule, which restricts contributions and fundraising by some individuals who are associated with hedge funds, private equity funds, and other registered investment advisers. The…
Continue Reading Court Dismisses Challenge to SEC Pay to Play Rule (For Now)

The Securities & Exchange Commission hit a Philadelphia-area private equity firm today with a major penalty, in the SEC’s first case involving alleged violations of its 2010 “pay-to-play” rules.  More enforcement actions may be coming.

The SEC pay-to-play rules were adopted to prevent, among other things, executives of investment firms…
Continue Reading SEC Announces Major Fines In First Pay-to-Play Enforcement Case

More investment firms are adopting policies to address compliance with the SEC pay-to-play rule, according to a recent survey conducted by the Investment Adviser Association, the ACA Compliance Group, and Old Mutual Asset Management.  The survey of 555 firms found that 43% of firms reported adopting pay-to-play policies as…
Continue Reading Survey Says … SEC Pay-to-Play Policies Are on the Rise