Compliance & Ethics

Block, Inc. Faces $80 Million Fine in State-Led Crackdown on Money-Laundering Lapses

When over 50 million people trust you to manage their money, getting it right isn’t just important—it’s everything. Unfortunately for Block, Inc., the parent company of Cash App, state regulators say the company dropped the ball.

A Record-Breaking Year for Whistleblowers & Justice: $2.9 Billion Recovered Under the False Claims Act

It’s not every day that David takes on Goliath and wins. But in fiscal year 2024, a record number of whistleblowers did just that, helping the Department of Justice (DOJ) recover a staggering $2.9 billion under the False Claims Act. While the number is impressive, the stories behind it are even more so—ordinary people stepping up to expose extraordinary fraud.

Financial Institutions Face New Standards for Consumer Protection

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) latest proposed rule isn’t just another notch in the belt of regulatory updates—it’s a call to arms for fairness, transparency, and accountability. Announced on January 13, 2025, this bold move challenges financial institutions to rethink the very foundations of how they engage with consumers.

Capital One Faces CFPB Lawsuit Over Alleged Savings Account Scheme

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has taken legal action against Capital One, N.A., and its parent company, Capital One Financial Corp. The lawsuit accuses the banking giant of misleading millions of customers about interest rates on its flagship “360 Savings” account—an alleged misrepresentation that may have cost savers more than $2 billion in unpaid interest.

DOJ Sues KKR for Serial Violations of Federal Premerger Review Law

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a civil lawsuit against KKR & Co. Inc. and several of its affiliated investment advisors and funds for systematically violating the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR Act), a crucial component of U.S. antitrust law. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that KKR repeatedly circumvented the premerger review process by withholding and altering key documents and failing to file required premerger notifications for at least 16 transactions between 2021 and 2022.

SEC Fines 12 Firms Over $63 Million for Recordkeeping Failures

You might think that some of Wall Street’s biggest names would have the basics covered, like keeping track of emails and messages they’re legally required to save. But as as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed recently, even financial heavyweights can fumble the fundamentals—at a collective cost of $63.1 million in penalties.

Robinhood Broker-Dealers Fined $45 Million for Sweeping Securities Law Violations

Robinhood, the company that once championed itself as the revolutionary force in making investing accessible to all, is now dealing with the fallout from a significant misstep. Today, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) slapped the fintech giant with a $45 million fine, citing a series of failures to adhere to key securities laws. The fine isn’t just a financial penalty—it’s a clear signal to other broker-dealers and fintech firms: you can’t grow fast without properly managing risk and compliance.