After winning its first retaliation case, the SEC announced that it awarded a whistleblower with the maximum payment of 30 percent of the amount collected. In the SEC enforcement action In the Matter of Paradigm Capital Management, Inc. and Candace King Weir, File No. 3-15930 (June 16, 2014), the SEC charged Paradigm with retaliating against the whistleblower after learning that he reported potential misconduct to the SEC. According to the SEC, Paradigm immediately engaged in a series of retaliatory actions against the whistleblower that included removing him from his then-current position

The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs held a hearing titled "The State of the Insurance Industry and Insurance Regulation." Witnesses testified on multiple issues regarding insurance regulation. One of them, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("FRB") Deputy Director of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation Mark Van Der Weide (view testimony), explained that the FRB has been "investing significant time" in enhancing its understanding of the insurance industry and the firms it supervises. He also said that the FRB is committed to tailoring its

The CFTC announced that the Global Markets Advisory Committee ("GMAC") will hold a public meeting on May 14, 2015. GMAC, which is sponsored by Commissioner Mark Wetjen, will focus the meeting on issues related to (i) clearinghouse safeguards and (ii) the CFTC's proposal on the cross-border application of its margin requirements for uncleared swaps. See: Federal Register Meeting Announcement; CFTC Press Release.

The SEC issued a notice in the Federal Register announcing that it will hold an open meeting on April 29, 2015 to discuss (i) foreign security-based swap dealers and (ii) executive compensation rulemaking. Specifically, meeting attendees will consider: whether to propose amendments and repropose a rule under the Exchange Act concerning the requirements for a security-based swap transaction connected with a non-U.S. person's dealing activity that is arranged, negotiated or executed by personnel located in a U.S. branch or office or in the U.S. branch or office of an agent; and whether to

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") announced that Michael Brickman was named Deputy Comptroller for Thrift Supervision. Mr. Brickman's new responsibilities include supervision of federal savings associations and ensuring the consistent interpretation and application of supervisory policies to the thrift industry. See: OCC Press Release.