finance — Lanton Law Blog

How to Choose a Lobbyist

Since the early 2000s, there has been a steady increase in the amount of government activity that has directly affected healthcare stakeholders. Prior to this time-period, companies could afford to focus only on differentiating their products from their competitors. Now companies are finding that during their strategic planning meetings, they must account for how state and federal government activity may impact their bottom line. In addition to having a Government Affairs staff, these same companies are starting to realize the importance of having established a relationship with a lobbyist. The question is how do you find the right lobbyist for your organization?

CFPB Will Invoke Dormant Authority to Scrutinize Nonbank Companies

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an announcement that it is “invoking a largely unused legal provision to examine nonbank financial companies that pose risks to consumers. The CFPB believes that utilizing this dormant authority will help protect consumers and level the playing field between banks and nonbanks. The CFPB is also seeking public comments on a procedural rule to make this process more transparent.”

President Biden Issues Executive Order Aimed at Multiple Industries

President Biden has issued an Executive Order (EO) titled Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy.

Lanton Law Monitoring Central Bank Digital Currency Developments

According to Investopedia “a central bank digital currency (CBDC) uses an electronic record or digital token to represent the virtual form of a fiat currency of a particular nation (or region). A CBDC is centralized; it is issued and regulated by the competent monetary authority of the country.”

Digital Currency, finance, fintech, SEC, tech, technologyRon LantonApril 20, 2021digital currency, Central Bank, Finance, Fiat Currency

SAFE Banking Act introduced Into the U.S. Senate

U.S. Senators Merkley (D-OR) and Daines (R-MT) have introduced the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, to ensure that legal cannabis operators have access to banking services. The bill can be viewed here.

New Psychedelic ETF About To Hit the Market

There is a new March 5, 2021 U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that will allow investors to gain exposure to the psychedelic and cannabis industries.

New York Privacy Act Introduced into the New York State Legislature

A680 titled the New York Privacy Act has been introduced into the New York State Assembly. The bill is sponsored by Assemblywoman Rosenthal (D-District 67).

Virginia on Track to Become Second Second State to Pass Data Privacy Laws

Lanton Law’s privacy practice has been closely monitoring the various state conversations around data privacy. We previously wrote a blog post titled California’s Consumer Privacy Act Could Be Coming to a State Near You, where we traced how California took the first step to create a consumer privacy law in the wake of Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation.

Senator Klobuchar Introduces Sweeping Omnibus Antitrust Reform Legislation

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the lead Democrat on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, recently introduced sweeping proposed legislation targeting antitrust reform.

Will 2021 Witness the Creation of More State Green Banks?

With the incoming Biden Administration, the President elect has announced his new environmental plan “To Build a Modern, Sustainable Infrastructure and Equitable Clean Energy Future.” Among the various policy points discussed in the plan, one interesting initiative describes the development of “innovative financing mechanisms that leverage private sector dollars to maximize investment in the clean energy revolution.” This last sentence reminds me of what happened in Connecticut with regards to their Green Bank.

The Rise of the Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC)

With the tumultuous chain of events we have witnessed throughout 2020, we have also been hearing more about the rise of SPACs. We have been getting asked more about SPACs such as what they are and what is their role within Wall Street?

Lanton Law & Private Equity

With increasing mergers and acquisitions in both the technology and healthcare sectors, investment opportunities abound for funds and interested stakeholders. In order for these stakeholders to be successful it is essential to know the limits and opportunities within a complex regulatory landscape.

This Week in Washington D.C.

It is widely anticipated this week that negotiation on another stimulus bill will begin on Capitol Hill. The backdrop of these negotiations are that we are starting to see an alarming increase in the number of COVID-19 infections nationwide, along with the fact that enhanced unemployment benefits that were approved in March 2020 will expire this week for many states without Congressional action to extend these benefits. The question is will we see another COVID-19 relief package that is similar to the CARES Act?

EXIM Policies Impacting Biotechnology & Life Science Stakeholders

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has established some new policies that will impact several stakeholder groups, especially biotechnology, biomedical sciences and life sciences stakeholders.

With the Debate Over Data Privacy Increasing, Senator Gillibrand Proposes Legislation to Create New Data Protection Agency

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has announced the creation of new legislation titled the Data Protection Act. According to the Senator’s press release, the bill would create “the Data Protection Agency (DPA), an independent federal agency that would protect Americans’ data, safeguard their privacy, and ensure data practices are fair and transparent.

Bi-Partisan Political Controversy Surrounding Cashless Stores

On January 30th, the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing titled “Is Cash Still King? Reviewing the Rise of Mobile Payments.” The Committee headed by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) held this hearing to determine whether businesses should be allowed or prohibited from refusing cash payments in stores. The policy rationale behind the debate is whether cashless stores would have the unintended consequences of harming marketplace access for low-income Americans who do not have a bank account.