Securities Fraud: Criminal and Regulatory Enforcement

From Hamilton to Bitcoins, our country has seen its share of administrative, civil and criminal enforcement actions in the securities industry where thousands of people and entities have either been indicted and/or sued civilly or administratively by government regulators. This course focuses on the legal, procedural, ethical and practical issues that occur from, civil, regulatory and criminal investigations arising out of such activity in the securities industry. These criminal, regulatory, and/or civil investigations may lead to prosecutions by federal or state governments, and private regulators. In particular, we will concentrate on enforcement matters in several areas, but will also focus as well on the new and emerging fields in this area, including, but not limited to, Blockchains, ICOs, and other digital platforms. These new (and old) matters pose difficult problems, requiring practitioners to weigh the possible consequences a decision in one proceeding may have in other proceedings while these actions may be simultaneously occurring. The course also examines novel legal strategies and tactics employed by both government and defense lawyers, who, respectively, search for new ways to combat fraud or protect and defend clients, as the law adapts. Such cutting-edge efforts contribute to the new and evolving body of case law in this field.

Grading and Method of Evaluation:
Letter grade only. Closed book, multiple choice and essay question final exam. Students are also graded on class participation as well as the final examination. Requisites Any one of the following requisites: corporations, securities regulation, criminal procedure, administrative law, work experience, or request to professor.

• Corporations or Securities Regulation