Last week the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) issued a No-Action Letter that helps harmonize the CFTC’s pay-to-play rules for swap dealers (Regulation 23.451) with both the SEC and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”) pay-to-play regulations. The Letter also provided guidance regarding the two-year “look back” period, during which time swap dealers may be prohibited

Prominent Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs will pay almost $12 million to settle charges that one of its investment bankers made undisclosed campaign contributions to a state official responsible for awarding government contracts.

The case is the first SEC action for pay-to-play violations based on “in-kind” – meaning, non-cash – contributions to a political campaign.

Last week the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations issued a National Examination Risk Alert for brokers, dealers and municipal securities dealers regarding compliance with Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) Rule G-37. The Risk Alert noted that recent SEC examiners have observed practices that raise concerns whether firms are adequately complying with all of