Transacting in cryptocurrency has been fraught with limitations since it came onto the scene over a decade ago.  Widespread adoption has been slow, as inherent volatility creates reluctance for businesses to accept crypto payments and hesitancy for customers to integrate crypto in their daily lives.  Paying a mortgage or buying an ice-cream cone, for instance, with a currency whose value can fluctuate wildly over the course of days, weeks, and months is generally unappe...

On May 4, 2021, the SEC’s Modernized Marketing Rule for Investment Advisers became effective, beginning an 18-month transition period after which investment advisers will be required to comply with a series of new rules regulating their marketing activity.

In the matter of Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. et al. v. Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, et al., Dr. Mason assisted with the development of arguments in the Brief of Financial Economists as Amici Curiae Supporting Respondents, filed in the Supreme Court of the United States.  Dr. Mason also shared his views with La...

In the matter of Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. et al. v. Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, et al., Dr. Mason assisted with the development of arguments in the Brief of Financial Economists as Amici Curiae Supporting Respondents, filed in the Supreme Court of the United States.  Dr. Mason also shared his views with Law360, which covered the case in the days lead...

Anticipating the economic fallout stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Reserve (Fed) deployed its Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF), which it initially established in 2008 to shore up asset-backed securities markets during the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC).  After excluding CLOs from the program’s initial scope in March 2020, the Fed announced the following month that, in addition to other structured products, certain AAA-rated collateralized loa...

Despite recent conversations around phasing out shelter-in-place constraints, pundits are still discussing the possibility of a protracted economic downturn on par with the Great Depression.  While at first glance such discussions may seem unduly negative, from a policy perspective, the heavy lifting still awaits because it may not be possible to just “switch” the economy back on by lifting workplace constraints.  Aside from consumer demand shifts resulting from the pand...

The economic crisis sparked by the COVID-19 outbreak has led to mortgage debt relief policies in countries such as Spain, Italy, and the UK.  On March 18, 2020, the Federal Housing Finance Agency directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to suspend single-family mortgage foreclosures and evictions and provide forbearance and modification plans. But those fall far short of offering the sort of broad relief necessary for workers idled by COVID-19 because modifications cannot be executed quickly ...

BVA Group's Alex Walther served as a panelist during mock depositions hosted by the Houston Young Lawyers Association as part of their CLE Boot Camp Series at the JW Marriott in Houston, Texas. Walther joined fellow panelists Alvin Adjei of Burritt | Adjei, PLLC and Nancy Davis of Bracewell to address topics including how to avoid common pitfalls and how to clarify evidentiary sufficiency and burdens of proof.