On January 20, 2026, in Ellingburg v. United States, 607 U.S. ____ (2026), the Supreme Court considered whether the Ex Post Facto Clause applies to the Mandatory Victim Restitution Act (MVRA), the statutory basis for most orders of restitution in federal criminal cases. That determination turned on whether restitution was a criminal penalty. If
The Department of Justice announced Friday that it obtained more than $6.8 billion in False Claims Act (FCA) settlements and judgments in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 (FY 2025). This is the largest total in a single year in FCA history, easily surpassing the $6.1 billion obtained in 2014.
Both recoveries and the
The Trump Administration has launched a coordinated, whole‑of‑government strategy to “totally eliminate” transnational cartels and affiliated criminal organizations. Two major steps have significantly reshaped the risk landscape for companies with operations in Mexico or that engage in cross-border flows between Mexico and the United States.
First, effective February 20, 2025, the administration designated eight organizations
On November 1, 2025, the most recent amendments to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual went into effect. Among other changes, the amendments streamline the sentencing process from three steps to two by eliminating the requirement that sentencing courts consider departures, which have now been removed from the operative text of the guidelines. As amended, the
In May 2025, we summarized the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Enforcement activity during the first quarter of the new presidential administration. With the second quarter now concluded, and Paul S. Atkins hitting his stride as the new Chairman of the SEC, we summarize below the types of SEC enforcement
On June 6, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition for certiorari in Navellier & Associates, Inc. v. SEC, declining to resolve a circuit split regarding the circumstances under which the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may obtain disgorgement. The Navellier petition, which arose from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Although certain enforcement priorities of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have shifted under new Chairman Paul S. Atkins, the SEC continues to scrutinize investment advisers’ disclosures regarding the fees charged to their clients. A recent case filed on June 2, 2025, SEC v. Nagler, illustrates that the SEC’s Division of Enforcement continues
On May 12, 2025, Department of Justice (DOJ) Criminal Chief Matthew Galeotti issued a memorandum addressing the “Fight Against White-Collar Crime.” The memorandum lists several priorities for white-collar criminal prosecutions. While the first priority – healthcare fraud and federal program and procurement fraud – is not surprising, the second priority – trade and customs fraud
Yesterday, as part of the annual “SEC Speaks” program, the leadership of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Enforcement publicly discussed the enforcement priorities under new Chairman Paul S. Atkins. A panel of SEC enforcement personnel, including Acting Director of Enforcement Samuel Waldon and others, shed light on the current focus of
The new presidential administration began on January 20, 2025, and change came quickly to many federal agencies, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On Inauguration Day, Paul S. Atkins was nominated to be the new Chairman of the SEC. The next day, January 21, Commissioner Mark T. Uyeda was named Acting Chairman to