Securities Enforcement. Corporate Investigations. Financial Regulation.
Independent analysis of the laws, regulations, investigations, and enforcement actions shaping modern financial markets.
BRAEDEN ANDERSON
Braeden is one of the top securities lawyers in the country and was recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America in the Financial Services Regulation Law and Securities Regulation categories. This honor is awarded to only the top 2% of attorneys in the United States and is based on a comprehensive peer-review survey.
Braeden helped lead Gesmer Updegrove to recognition in The Legal 500 United States for Corporate Investigations & White Collar Crime, Tier 3, and Finance: Fintech, Tier 4.
Braeden is active in the U.S. securities enforcement community through Securities Docket, where he has served on the 2025 and 2026 Advisory Boards and contributed video commentary through the Weekly Update.
Braeden was named the #1 United States author in FinTech in Mondaq’s Spring 2025 Thought Leadership Awards, reflecting the national reach and influence of his writing on fintech, securities regulation, and digital asset policy.
SEC Crypto Enforcement Pauses in Select Matters; But Uncertainty Remains for Many
While major platforms like Coinbase and Binance breathe easier, countless other crypto market participants remain in the crosshairs of unresolved investigations. These businesses, builders, and innovators face the same murky regulatory waters, the same costly battles, and the same chilling uncertainty that the SEC now seems to acknowledge is problematic. So, why are they still left out in the cold?
Bondi Pivots Justice Department’s Stance on White Collar Under Trump
The Justice Department is scaling back its enforcement of laws governing foreign lobbying transparency and foreign bribery, according to a memorandum issued by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The shift signals a narrowing of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement scope, moving away from traditional corporate bribery cases and toward investigations tied to transnational criminal organizations.
Sen. Lummis Urges Second Circuit to Curb SEC’s Crypto Overreach
Senator Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., has thrown her support behind Coinbase Inc. in its legal battle against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), urging the Second Circuit to clarify the limits of the SEC’s authority in regulating digital assets. In an amicus brief filed Friday, Lummis argued that the SEC’s enforcement actions against crypto intermediaries, including Coinbase, undermine congressional efforts to establish a clear regulatory framework for the digital asset industry.
Palo Alto Networks Insider Trading Case: Ninth Circuit Orders Resentencing
The Ninth Circuit has upheld securities fraud convictions against Sivannarayana Barama, a former Palo Alto Networks engineer who profited $7 million through insider trading. However, the court remanded the case for resentencing, ruling that the district court improperly used Barama’s trading gains as a proxy for the company’s loss without determining an actual loss.
KuCoin’s $297M Settlement Marks a Turning Point in Crypto Compliance
Crypto exchange KuCoin has agreed to pay $297 million and pled guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, following allegations of widespread anti-money laundering (AML) failures and the facilitation of over $5 billion in illicit transactions. This significant development underscores the growing scrutiny of cryptocurrency platforms by U.S. regulators and law enforcement.