Finance Law and Banking Law

On August 10, the Washington DFI entered into a consent order with a mortgage services company resolving allegations that the company performed third-party residential mortgage loan processing...

Asset-based lending against in-transit inventory presents unique legal challenges as lenders navigate UCC Article 7 requirements, negotiable documents of title, and the emerging landscape of electronic bills of lading. This analysis examines how ABL lenders can structure security interests to protect their position when goods are moving through the supply chain, from traditional paper documentation to modern electronic platforms.

A federal court decision clarifies critical enforcement rights under UCC Article 9 for lenders in partner and investor loan programs, addressing the 10-day notice safe harbor, commercial reasonableness standards, and timing requirements for collateral disposition notices. The ruling provides essential guidance on foreclosure procedures when limited partnership interests serve as loan collateral.

Derivatives have evolved into essential financial instruments whose value derives from underlying assets like stocks, bonds, commodities, and currencies. This comprehensive guide examines the global derivatives landscape, exploring various instrument types from futures and options to swaps and CFDs, while analyzing how regulatory frameworks across major financial centers shape modern trading practices.

The U.S. Supreme Court may soon decide whether federal derivatives law preempts state sports gambling regulations, while the SEC proposes eliminating its controversial pay-to-play rule for investment advisers. Federal regulators also clarify how financial institutions can discuss suspicious transactions with customers without violating confidentiality requirements.

Prediction markets have rapidly evolved from a niche financial sector into one of the fastest-growing areas of the derivatives industry, attracting institutional investors, exchanges, and heightened regulatory scrutiny. As the CFTC, courts, and industry participants work to define the regulatory framework for this emerging asset class, questions around market structure, customer protection, and risk management have moved to the forefront. Katten's Financial Markets and Regulation team provides cutting-edge

The federal banking agencies have proposed new third-party risk management guidance that is more prescriptive than its emphasis on a “risk-based” approach might suggest. In addition to calling for risk-based oversight, the proposal identifies specific elements that banks should address in board-approved policies and throughout the life cycle of third-party relationships, including due diligence, contracting, ongoing monitoring, documentation, remediation, and termination.

In the world of banking regulation, corporate structure matters. One of the most significant structural designations a banking organization can achieve is that of a financial holding company (FHC). This post explains what an FHC is, how it differs from a standard bank holding company (BHC), and how a BHC elects to become one.

Banks face significant restrictions on how they market and price products under anti-tying provisions, but the combined-balance discount exception offers a strategic pathway for relationship-based pricing. Understanding which products qualify and how to properly aggregate household balances can unlock meaningful flexibility while maintaining regulatory compliance.

The SEC has granted petitions for review of Nasdaq's $5 million MVLS listing standard, keeping the controversial rule on hold while extending the review period for NYSE American's similar market capitalization requirement. Microcap companies trading near these thresholds face potential delisting consequences if these proposed rule changes are ultimately approved, making it critical to understand the compliance strategies and ongoing regulatory developments.

Forget what you thought you knew about startup funding. According to Crunchbase, billion-dollar rounds have moved from anomaly to expectation. In the first half of 2026, 60% of global startup funding flowed to rounds of $1 billion or more — and in the U.S., that figure jumped to a staggering 73%.

IPO readiness extends far beyond technical accounting, requiring companies to operate like public entities months before filing. Finance leaders must establish robust financial architecture, align stakeholders across departments, and address historical accounting issues that can derail timelines when exposed to public-company scrutiny.