On January 7, 2020, the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) released its 2020 examination priorities.  While a number of the 2020 priorities are continuations from the prior year, OCIE made certain enhancements and/or additions to these exam priorities that are similar to themes highlighted in its risk

Privacy and the safeguarding of customer information continues to be an important compliance topic from the SEC’s perspective, including its examination staff.  The SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) recently released a Risk Alert highlighting common examination deficiencies from registered advisers and broker-dealers related to Regulation S-P, a rule requiring that such registrants

In late 2018, the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) released its 2019 examination priorities, which cover not only investment advisers and registered funds, but also broker-dealers and transfer agents.  To help you digest and better understand these 2019 exam priorities, our Washington, DC-based Investment Management practice has prepared a legal update (see

In the past 2 years, we have seen a clear uptick in desk exams by the SEC’s investment adviser examination staff. These “desk” exams consist of the staff sending a preliminary document request (the same as they would if they intended to arrive in person), reviewing the materials presented, and then typically sending additional requests. Sometimes requests from the staff can reach double digits depending upon what information is previously submitted. Following that production, and any subsequent follow-up phone calls, the staff typically issues a deficiency letter and the registrant responds.

There are pros and cons to this kind of exam.
Continue Reading SEC Desk Exams: Up Close But Not Personal