The number of people who applied for the SEC’s regional director’s position in Fort Worth can be counted on one hand. The reason: the SEC’s Fort Worth enforcement budget has been slashed, staffing has been dramatically reduced and the ability to investigate and prosecute complex cases against corporations and financial institutions involved in illegal and fraudulent conduct has been significantly weakened. The Texas Lawbook has insider details.
Blockchain and the Future of Everything
What is blockchain? Is there a difference between bitcoin and blockchain? What do smart contracts mean for lawyers? Matt Acosta of Jackson Walker provides a beginner’s guide to understanding this developing technology.
Houston Law Firm Wins Nation’s First Prisoner Release under First Step Act
Richard Evans walked out of federal prison Thursday as the first person freed under the new First Step Act’s “compassionate release” measure. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt of Houston signed the order and Houston lawyers David Gerger, Samy Khalil and Ashlee McFarland filed the emergency petition. The Texas Lawbook has the inside details.
Forest Park Surgeons and Hospital Officials on Trial for Alleged Kickback Scheme
Jury selection is expected to start today for five doctors and four other Forest Park hospital officials standing trial in federal court for being involved in an alleged illegal kickback scheme that put tens of millions of dollars into their pockets. Healthcare lawyers across the country are closely monitoring the case. Texas Lawbook correspondent Bruce Tomaso is covering the trial and will provide gavel-to-gavel coverage.
Xerox Settles Medicaid Fraud Case with AG’s Office for $236M
Xerox Corporation and several of its former subsidiaries have agreed to a $235.9 settlement with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the state announced Tuesday. It represents the largest single resolution in a case filed by the AG’s office for Medicaid-related claims.
SEC’s Shipchandler Joins Mega-firm Jones Day
Shamoil Shipchandler, who resigned Friday as director of the Fort Worth Regional Office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, is joining his predecessor, David Woodcock, as partner in the Dallas office of Jones Day. In an interview Sunday with The Texas Lawbook, Shipchandler talked about his time at the SEC.
SEC Charges Frisco Real Estate Developer with Multimillion-Dollar Fraud
North Texas real estate developer Phillip Michael Carter and two of his colleagues – already facing state criminal fraud charges – found themselves the target of new securities fraud allegations Friday afternoon.
Updated – Shamoil Shipchandler Resigns as SEC Regional Director
Shamoil Shipchandler, the director of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Fort Worth regional office, resigned his position Friday as the federal government’s top official policing Texas corporate executives and financial dealers and brokers. The Texas Lawbook has details and analysis.
The Shutdown Continues and Capital Markets Face Uncertainty
We are in the midst of the longest government shutdown in history and the capital markets are feeling the pinch. Depending on when the shutdown ends, these next few weeks could have an impact on capital raising in 2019. Two experts explain how regulators are responding to the shutdown and how you can negotiate the regulatory terrain in the meantime.
SEC: Houston Developers Fraudulently Misused Investor Funds
The SEC announced Wednesday that America Modern Green Senior, America Modern Green Community and America Modern Green Residential have agreed to settle charges that they improperly used $49.5 million they raised from 90 Chinese investors for a project under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.
