Compliance & Ethics

ESMA Pushes for Sharper Transparency Under MiFIR

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has just released its Final Report, outlining key updates to bond market transparency rules under the MiFIR (Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation) Review. These changes, which cover bonds, structured finance products (SFPs), and emission allowances (EUAs), are all about improving transparency while ensuring fairness and protecting liquidity providers from undue risk.

FTC and Illinois Attorney General Team Up to Hold Grubhub Accountable for Deceptive Practices

Grubhub will pay $25 million to settle charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Illinois Attorney General, following claims of unfair practices that impacted diners, delivery drivers, and small businesses. The settlement addresses a series of deceptive actions by the food delivery giant, from hiding the true cost of delivery to making misleading claims about earnings for drivers.

NHTSA Finalizes Whistleblower Program Rule

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has finalized a rule formalizing its whistleblower program. This rule, which fulfills a mandate from the Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, is designed to strengthen existing whistleblower protections and create a more transparent system for uncovering safety issues in the auto industry.

Becton Dickinson to Pay $175 Million for Misleading Investors on Alaris Infusion Pump

Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), a New Jersey-based medical device manufacturer, has agreed to pay a $175 million civil penalty to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The settlement resolves allegations that BD misled investors about significant risks associated with its Alaris infusion pump, a product that once contributed about 10% of the company’s profits.

McKinsey’s $650 Million Settlement Marks a Dark Chapter in Corporate Malfeasance; Senior Partner Faces Obstruction Charges

In a damning chapter in the annals of corporate malfeasance to date, McKinsey & Company—the vaunted consulting powerhouse—has agreed to pay $650 million to resolve U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations into its role in fueling the opioid epidemic. With this settlement, McKinsey becomes the first consulting firm to face criminal charges for advising a client, Purdue Pharma L.P., on activities that significantly contributed to a public health catastrophe of staggering proportions.

EBA Finds Gaps in Combating Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing, Despite Significant Progress

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has unveiled the results of its fourth and final round of reviews, examining how competent authorities across 30 EU/EEA member states are tackling the ever-present risks of money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) in the banking sector. With this report, the EBA has completed its comprehensive assessment of the authorities responsible for AML/CFT supervision, offering a detailed snapshot of the progress made—and the work that remains.

Turkey Hits Google with $75 Million Antitrust Fine Over Ad Tech Practices

Turkey has just handed Google a significant blow in the form of a 2.6 billion Turkish Lira fine—roughly $75 million—marking yet another chapter in the ongoing global scrutiny of Google’s dominance in the ad tech industry. The decision from Turkey's Competition Authority (TCA) underscores mounting regulatory pressure on the tech giant’s practices in the online advertising space.