Katayun I Jaffari

April 26, 2019 | The Legal Intelligencer

On April 2, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published final rules to modernize and simplify certain disclosure requirements within Regulation S-K pursuant to the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act).

By Katayun I. Jaffari and Nathaniel J. Stanger

9 minute read

September 07, 2018 | The Legal Intelligencer

In June of this year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to approve rule amendments (referred to in this article as the amendments) that specifically expand the definition of the so-called “smaller reporting company.”

By Katayun I. Jaffari and Kimberly W. Klayman

6 minute read

August 06, 2018 | The Legal Intelligencer

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been staying busy recently with final rule-making and proposed regulatory changes. Below is a roundup of some of these recent developments.

By Katayun I. Jaffari and Mehrnaz (Naz) Jalali

2 minute read

January 29, 2018 | The Legal Intelligencer

Everyone is talking about them. Cryptocurrencies have become one of the most interesting technology tools of the last decade.

By Katayun I. Jaffari and Kimberly W. Klayman

7 minute read

November 06, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer

Pay ratio is still here. If you thought pay ratio was out the door when the new presidential administration came through in January of this year, you are not alone. However, the pay ratio rule has not been repealed by Congress.

By Katayun I. Jaffari and Mehrnaz (Naz) Jalali

6 minute read

September 11, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer

While shareholders across different business sectors necessarily have diverse concerns, executive compensation is a topic that remains at the top of nearly all shareholders' lists of corporate governance priorities. Largely beginning with the implementation of "say-on-pay" votes under The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act), companies have increased communications with shareholders and have begun more recently to proactively respond to shareholder concerns.

By Katayun I. Jaffari and Kaleena Laputka

11 minute read

August 08, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer

On June 29, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it is permitting all companies to file the paperwork for an initial public offering (an IPO) without immediately disclosing the IPO to the public. Further, companies will be permitted to immediately withdraw an IPO filing. Previously, this "nonpublic review process," known as the "stealth IPO rules," was only available to emerging growth companies. As of July 10, when the so-called "stealth IPO rules" went into effect, all companies, including those that would not be classified as emerging growth companies, have been able to take advantage of a confidential IPO process.

By Katayun I. Jaffari and Kimberly W. Klayman

13 minute read

May 01, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer

It has been a little over three months since the new administration assumed office and uncertainty still exists around the administration's approach to ­securities regulations, although deregulation is ­anticipated. Such uncertainty is compounded as the leadership of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hangs in the balance.

By Katayun I. Jaffari 
and Shonterra M. Jordan

12 minute read

January 30, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer

As of Jan. 20, 2017, a new ­administration took over the White House and Republicans control both Houses of Congress. This power shift raises a number of questions, not the least of which is, what will securities laws and securities law enforcement look like in the coming years? After eight years of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) being led by former enforcement regulators and criminal prosecutors, ­commentators assume that the administration change marks a pivot toward securities deregulation and reduced enforcement.

By Katayun I. Jaffari 
and Kimberly W. Klayman

14 minute read

October 31, 2016 | The Legal Intelligencer

It is no secret that the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) current priorities have shifted into the world of nonfinancial governance matters. Earlier this year, SEC Chairman Mary Jo White expressed concern about existing ­disclosure requirements for board diversity and explained that the SEC staff is reviewing current disclosures with an eye toward providing recommendations for changes. The SEC is also currently exploring rulemaking with respect to sustainability. In April 2016, in connection with the SEC's disclosure effectiveness initiative, the SEC issued Concept Release No. 33-10064 on Business and Financial Disclosure Required by Regulation S-K (the concept release). The concept release sought comment on modernizing certain disclosure requirements under Regulation S-K. In particular, the concept release requested feedback on the importance of sustainability ­matters, including climate change. Corporation Finance Director Keith Higgins recently reported that the highest number of comments on the Concept Release related to "improved sustainability disclosure." In ­addition, there continues to be heightened interest in cybersecurity given the number of data breaches over the last few years, most recently with Yahoo.

By Katayun I. Jaffari 
and Peter A. Jaslow

16 minute read