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 Restores Simultaneous Consideration Policy for Settlement and Waiver
This article and embedded video discusses the recent policy shift at the SEC regarding simultaneous consideration of settlement offers and related waiver requests in enforcement actions. The policy change reverses a 2021 decision under prior leadership that had required waiver requests to be considered separately, only after a settlement was finalized.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins Announces Sweeping Cuts and Contract Reviews: What This Means for Market Regulation and Enforcement
In his first major address to the agency, newly appointed SEC Chair Paul Atkins informed staff this week that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has experienced a 15% reduction in workforce, with more changes to come. The remarks, delivered during a town hall at SEC headquarters in Washington, D.C., mark a sharp pivot in tone and direction for the Commission under the Trump administration’s broader government downsizing initiative, led in part by billionaire adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
What to Expect from SEC Chair Paul Atkins: Potential Reforms and Priorities
The nomination of Paul Atkins as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) signals a new era for the agency. This article explores 13 potential reforms and priorities that could define Atkins’ leadership, based on his past positions, public statements, and the regulatory landscape he inherits.
Coinbase CEO Calls for Accountability from Future SEC Chair Over Crypto Regulation Missteps
In a bold statement on October 29, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong voiced his frustrations with the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) handling of crypto regulation, stating that the agency's next chair should issue a public apology for what he described as "damage" to the American crypto sector. Armstrong highlighted years of inconsistent statements and actions from the SEC, which he argues have harmed innovation, created regulatory confusion, and discouraged crypto businesses from operating in the U.S.
Gensler Reaffirms SEC's Regulation-By-Enforcement Approach to Crypto Amidst Industry Debate
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler has once again reiterated his commitment to the agency's ongoing regulation-by-enforcement strategy concerning cryptocurrency. Despite criticism from various sectors of the digital asset industry, Gensler maintains that the SEC’s efforts are firmly grounded in decades of legal precedent, and he intends to continue this approach to provide clarity and protection in the rapidly evolving world of digital assets.