The SEC Speaks 2012: An Evolving SEC Reloads Following 2011’s Record Enforcement Actions

The annual "SEC Speaks" conference, where the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC" or "the Commission") and its senior staff review the major developments from the prior year and preview their plans for the upcoming year, convened in Washington, D.C. from February 24-25, 2012. While the clarion call that emerged from last year's conference was a plea for additional resources to manage the unprecedented new mandate created by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, this last year has prompted a renewed rallying cry by the SEC as it emerges from the all-consuming Dodd-Frank rulemaking efforts with a record 735 enforcement actions and an eye toward ratcheting up its proactive risk-based initiatives.