The first half of 2026 saw a notable increase in private market activity, with investor interest increasingly concentrated in a handful of sectors. Nasdaq Private Market’s Secondary Scene: Private Markets at the Midpoint of 2026 report provides a comprehensive review of trends, including data on issuances, secondary activity, and liquidity programs. As has been widely reported, the
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FINRA Aims to Strengthen Examination Program through Innovation & Transparency
In a post by its Head of Examinations, Jim Reese, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) announced a series of meaningful changes to its examination program as part of its “FINRA Forward” initiative. The changes are designed to make the exam process more transparent and efficient, and more closely tied to risk assessments. These
Reg E-Delivery: Giant Leap or Baby Step?
On July 16, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed new Regulation E-Delivery (“Reg E-Delivery”), a potential modernization of the default manner in which issuers, broker-dealers, investment advisers, and other market participants provide information to investors in our increasingly electronic world. In the words of SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, “[t]oday, the Commission
A New Day, A New Plan: SEC Publishes Draft Strategic Plan for FY2026-FY2030
On June 2, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) published its Draft Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2026-2030, formally incorporating Chair Paul Atkins’ deregulatory and innovation-focused vision into the agency’s governing framework. The plan is organized around three strategic goals: (1) renewing regulatory policy, (2) reforming enforcement and stakeholder engagement, and (3)
Fine Print: A Conversation between Joanna Stern and Ian Krietzberg
Book Talk | Register here.May 13, 2026 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ETThe EDITION Times Square, The Terrace Restaurant (Garden West), 701 7th Ave, New York
Join us for Fine Print—Mayer Brown, together with Puck, will host periodic conversations with finance and technology leaders. Big ideas deserve a bigger audience.
We start
FINRA Publishes 2026 Annual Regulatory Oversight Report
The Report highlights FINRA’s continued focus on generative artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, small-cap securities fraud, and third-party risk
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) published its 2026 FINRA Annual Regulatory Oversight Report (the “Report”), which builds on the structure and content of FINRA’s prior reports for 2021-2025. This year, the Report was published earlier than
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure
Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Committee met to discuss, among other things, whether to recommend to the SEC that it issue additional disclosure guidance related to artificial intelligence (AI). With some dissent, the Committee ultimately voted in favor of the recommendations (see Disclosure of Artificial Intelligence’s Impact on Operations),
SEC Investor Advisory Committee to Discuss Corporate Governance, Tokenization & AI Disclosure
The Investor Advisory Committee (the “Committee”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) will hold a virtual public meeting on December 4, 2025, to discuss corporate governance regulatory reforms and the emergence of tokenization of equity securities. In addition, the Committee will discuss a potential recommendation to the SEC relating to disclosure of the
SEC Division of Examinations Announces 2026 Exam Priorities
Under new SEC leadership, the Division’s 2026 Examination Priorities reflect a modified approach, following a reevaluation of the Division’s risk-based priorities, and a renewed focus on several traditional risk areas (including Regulation Best Interest, adherence to fiduciary standards of conduct, complex products and the Broker-Dealer Financial Responsibility Rules) as well as continued attention to emerging
FINRA Advances Regulatory Mission Through Artificial Intelligence
FINRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Cook, recently published a blog post describing FINRA’s ongoing efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (“AI”), including generative AI (“GenAI”), into its regulatory program and engage with member firms regarding their use of GenAI. Below we highlight how FINRA is using GenAI to perform its self-regulatory functions more effectively