SEC Updates Telework Operating Status

The SEC and CFTC have fundamentally shifted their enforcement approach in 2026, moving away from high-volume technical violations toward targeted actions addressing serious fraud and market manipulation. This mid-year update examines new leadership priorities, enhanced inter-agency coordination, revised cooperation policies, the elimination of "no-deny" settlement provisions, and a landmark Supreme Court ruling on disgorgement that collectively reshape the regulatory landscape for market participants.

As we look ahead to 2025, the landscape of debt financing and M&A activity is poised for significant transformation.

Healthcare M&A activity maintained steady momentum through Q2 2026, driven by physician practice consolidation, AI-enabled technology acquisitions, and strategic outpatient expansion. Private equity investment persisted despite intensifying regulatory scrutiny of MSO arrangements, while digital health buyers paid significant premiums for platforms demonstrating production-grade AI capabilities and proprietary data assets.

What Every Owner Needs to Know Before Signing on the Dotted Line

Simpson Thacher Sustainability And ESG: Regulatory Update – September 2026

Law firms are one of the last major professional services segments without meaningful private equity (PE) penetration.

On 30 September 2026, the SEC proposed rule amendments advancing Chairman Paul S. Atkins’ “responsible retailization” of private markets, expanding retail access to private-market strategies while adding key investor safeguards.

SEC-registered investment advisers are subject to an array of reporting and compliance obligations in order to maintain registered investment adviser status.

Ballard Spahr attorneys provide comprehensive updates on mortgage banking and consumer finance developments, including DIDMCA legislative efforts, website tracking litigation trends...

The European Union's Cyber Resilience Act introduces mandatory cybersecurity requirements for software and connected hardware sold in the EU market, with vulnerability reporting obligations beginning September 2026...

FinCEN notified U.S. financial institutions that the Financial Action Task Force ("FATF") updated the list of jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in combating anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism ("AML/CFT").

The Health Resources and Services Administration has announced a revised 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program for drugs subject to Medicare's Maximum Fair Price, expanding eligibility to manufacturers with selected drugs for 2026 and 2027. The program introduces new data requirements, dispute resolution mechanisms, and stricter compliance monitoring while addressing stakeholder concerns about administrative burden and program integrity.

Landlords of rent stabilized buildings in New York City have filed a lawsuit challenging the rent freeze passed by the Rent Guidelines Board, questioning the Board's independence and data integrity. With operating costs rising 31% over five years while the Board voted 7-1 for a freeze affecting 1 million apartments, the case raises critical questions about the balance between tenant protection and landlord viability.

The Surface Transportation Board has lifted its abeyance and established a procedural roadmap for the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger proceeding, marking the official start...

The Treasury Department and IRS have proposed new regulations that would establish an explicit racial nondiscrimination requirement for private schools seeking federal tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3). These proposed rules go beyond existing law by prohibiting all forms of racial discrimination in education regardless of intent, legality, or purpose, potentially affecting admissions policies, scholarship programs, and other school-administered initiatives.

On February 25, 2026, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "OCC") issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the "NPRM") to implement the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (the "GENIUS Act").

The SEC has issued a groundbreaking Innovation Exemption order that creates a five-year regulatory framework for trading tokenized versions of major U.S. exchange-listed stocks. This temporary relief exempts certain digital asset venues and liquidity providers from traditional securities regulations, establishing permissioned environments for on-chain secondary markets while maintaining investor protections.

This September 2026 edition of Quorum examines critical developments in corporate governance, M&A transactions, and securities regulation, including Delaware Court decisions on strategic investor rights and control group standards, new SEC guidance on beneficial ownership reporting, and Supreme Court rulings on disgorgement remedies. The newsletter also analyzes FTC perspectives on vertical mergers in defense sectors and provides comprehensive updates on the SEC's 2026 regulatory agenda under Chairman Atkin

California's Air Resources Board has released comprehensive guidance for entities preparing their first greenhouse gas emissions reports under SB 253, introducing a voluntary reporting platform and clarifying expectations for the November 2026 deadline. The guidance addresses critical questions about data collection requirements, assurance standards, and enforcement discretion for companies that weren't tracking emissions as of December 2024. Understanding these reporting parameters and submission options w

The Federal Trade Commission closed its investigation of IonQ's acquisition of SkyWater Technology after the Commission's two sitting members divided over whether the transaction warranted a negotiated behavioral consent order. These detailed statements reveal how each Commissioner analyzes vertical transactions and their claimed benefits, offering critical insights for parties planning vertical transactions in defense and national-security sectors.