Featured Articles

Will Cooler Days Bring Cooler Heads?

Blank Rome Government Relations
August 04, 2009 23:45

Even Cabinet Members (maybe ESPECIALLY Cabinet Members) need an August break. Various media outlets have reported that Treasury Secretary Geithner delivered an expletive-laced tirade to the principal U.S. financial regulators during a meeting last Friday, in what sources say was a clear show of...

Dodd Retiring

January 07, 2010 17:10

Sen. Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd's (D-CT) announcement that he will not seek re-election has roiled the already choppy waters surrounding the financial reform legislation. The Financial Reform Watch team has been intrigued by the comments attibuted to congressional and industry sources...

Recent Articles

Capital Formation Legislation - What will the Senate Do?

Blank Rome Government Relations
March 13, 2012 21:53

In rare burst of bipartisanship last week, the House of Representatives passed a capital formation bill – H.R. 3606, the “Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act” (JOBS Act) – by a vote of 390 to 23. Even the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy in support of...

Senate and House Pass Bill Banning Insider Trading by Members of Congress

Blank Rome Government Relations
March 02, 2012 13:38

This article was originally published in the February 2012 edition of Current Developments in Securities Laws by Michael E. Plunkett, Partner, Blank Rome LLP.   On February 2, 2012, and February 9, 2012, the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, passed separate versions of the...

Analysis: Government's Moneyball Moment

Blank Rome Government Relations
February 09, 2012 18:10

The recent movie Moneyball, based on Michael Lewis’ book, describes the cash-strapped 2002 Oakland Athletics’ efforts to build a competitive team with limited resources. Oakland General Manager Billy Beane relied on sophisticated, seldom-used metrics to analyze players, leading him to...

Could the CFPB Change the Rules on Arbitration Clauses?

Blank Rome Government Relations
February 07, 2012 14:09

Of the 87 studies required by the Dodd Frank Act, one may get a bump up the priority list thanks to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in CompuCredit v. Greenwood, which upheld the rights of companies to include mandatory arbitration clauses in their user agreements. Several consumer groups...

Cordray Controversy Continues

Blank Rome Government Relations
January 17, 2012 14:26

Following President Obama’s January 4th announcement that he would install former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) using a recess appointment, a hailstorm of controversy has ensued, as lawyers, legislators and industry...

What to Expect in 2012: Derivatives

Blank Rome Government Relations
January 13, 2012 16:42

In the 17 months since the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank), implementation has progressed slowly. Financial regulators have finalized 74 of the 243 rules required by the Act and have conducted 39 of the 87 required studies. The regulatory...

Despite Dissent, CFTC Moves Forward With Volcker Rule

Blank Rome Government Relations
January 12, 2012 19:55

Yesterday the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) unveiled the latest iteration of regulations required under Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, known as the “Volcker Rule.” Named for former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, the...

Despite Republican Objections, Obama Installs Cordray as CFPB Director

Blank Rome Government Relations
January 04, 2012 21:22

President Obama announced this afternoon that he will install Former Ohio Attorney General Richard as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by “recess appointment.” The recess appointment comes despite the fact that the Senate is not officially in recess. The appointment...