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.
Big Law and the Trump Administration
The Trump administration’s latest actions targeting Paul Weiss and other major law firms have sparked debate over the future of Big Law. While these developments are significant, it’s important to take a measured view—this is disruptive but not existential for the industry.
Acting SEC Chair Reshapes the Agency Ahead of Trump’s Pick
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is undergoing a profound transformation as its acting leadership reshapes the agency ahead of the confirmation of President Trump’s nominee, Paul Atkins. These sweeping changes include staffing reductions, leadership shake-ups, and a recalibration of enforcement priorities, raising questions about the future of securities regulation in the United States.
SEC Accuses Cannabis CFO of $4.2M Round-Trip Accounting Scheme: Industry Lessons
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed charges against the former CFO of Acreage Holdings, Glen Leibowitz, alleging his involvement in a $4.2 million round-trip transaction designed to manipulate the company’s year-end cash balance. This case underscores the increasing regulatory scrutiny cannabis companies face, particularly as they grapple with complex financial reporting obligations, banking restrictions, and compliance challenges.
SEC Backs Down on Ripple
In a major development for the cryptocurrency industry, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ended its appeal against Ripple Labs regarding the legal status of the XRP token. This decision marks a significant shift in regulatory posture, reflecting broader changes in crypto oversight under the new administration.
CFTC Pulls Back on SEF Registration Advisory: A Win for Market Clarity
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) just hit the reset button. On March 13, 2025, the Division of Market Oversight (DMO) issued CFTC Letter No. 25-05, officially scrapping the controversial 2021 Advisory on Swap Execution Facility (SEF) Registration (CFTC Letter No. 21-19). Effective immediately, this move restores the pre-2021 regulatory framework, providing much-needed clarity for commodity trading advisors (CTAs), introducing brokers (IBs), and other market players facilitating swap execution.