On Dec. 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law H.R. 2617, the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.” Among the routine federal funding provisions, Title V of the bill, the “Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales and Brokerage Simplification” (Title V), contains a provision on qualifying mergers and acquisitions brokers. 

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Photo of Robert Long Robert Long

Robert Long previously served as a senior attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Rob defends clients in government investigations and prosecutions,

Robert Long previously served as a senior attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Rob defends clients in government investigations and prosecutions, spearheads special investigations, and advises financial services firms and market participants on regulatory, compliance, and cryptocurrency matters.

SEC Attorney Experience

Rob spent over ten years at the SEC in various capacities—Trial Attorney, Branch Chief, Senior Counsel, and Staff Attorney. In the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, Rob led enforcement litigation in federal courts and administrative proceedings, and directed/conducted complex investigations that resulted in significant enforcement actions, including halting a $160 million Ponzi scheme, charging a Fortune 500 company with FCPA violations, charging a Fortune 1000 company with accounting fraud, and prosecuting multiple insider trading cases and sophisticated market manipulation schemes. Rob also served in the SEC’s Division of Market Regulation (now the Division of Trading and Markets) where he reviewed market rules and analyzed market structure issues. While at the SEC, Rob served in the SEC’s Fort Worth and Washington, DC offices.

FINRA Attorney Experience

As a Senior Regional Counsel in FINRA’s Department of Enforcement in Dallas, Rob investigated violations of FINRA, SEC, and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) rules, and the federal securities laws. Rob successfully handled enforcement cases involving high-frequency trading, complex products, inadequate anti-money laundering (AML) compliance programs, due diligence violations, supervision failures, misrepresentations in oil and gas offering materials, unsuitable recommendations, net capital violations, and broker misconduct.

DOJ Attorney Experience

Rob is a former federal prosecutor. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) for the District of Arizona in the Economic Crimes and Public Integrity Unit and as a Special AUSA for the Northern District of Texas, Rob worked closely with various law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Secret Service, and Postal Inspection Service, to prosecute high-profile white collar and public integrity cases. His cases included a 12 defendant mortgage and loan fraud scheme, a “politically sensitive” case of “extreme importance,” and an oil and gas offering fraud scheme that was included in The President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. Notably, Rob was selected by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona to participate in DOJ’s nationwide “Election Day Program” to respond to complaints regarding election fraud and voting rights abuses during the November 7, 2006 general elections, and was a member of the Mortgage Fraud Task Force.

National Practice

Rob draws on his knowledge of the inner workings of regulatory and law enforcement organizations and his wide-ranging multi-agency experience when defending regulatory and white-collar investigations and prosecutions; advising corporations, hedge funds, broker-dealers, investment advisers, and other market participants on compliance and regulatory matters; and conducting internal investigations. Rob advises clients on matters involving the SEC, FINRA, DOJ, FBI, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), National Futures Association (NFA), Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and other federal and state regulatory agencies, including the Texas State Securities Board (TSSB). Rob is regarded as a skilled attorney advising companies (public and private), senior executives, boards, directors, and other individuals in securities enforcement and government investigation matters.

Photo of William Mack William Mack

William B. Mack is a co-chair of the Financial Regulatory and Compliance Practice. He is experienced in advising companies on regulatory and compliance matters relating to the Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, the Exchange Act, Anti-Money Laundering laws and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority

William B. Mack is a co-chair of the Financial Regulatory and Compliance Practice. He is experienced in advising companies on regulatory and compliance matters relating to the Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, the Exchange Act, Anti-Money Laundering laws and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules.

William’s practice involves all aspects of broker-dealer regulation, including Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) membership, supervision, employment, research, soft dollar arrangements, chaperoning of foreign broker-dealers, social media, use of foreign finders, anti-money laundering rules, alternative trading systems (ATS), exchanges, and market making issues. He also provides regulatory guidance to investment banking clients in connection with securities offerings and related trading issues.

Photo of Mark D. Shaffer Mark D. Shaffer

Mark Shaffer advises U.S. and foreign financial institutions, broker-dealers, cryptocurrency businesses, fintech companies, and digital payment companies on a broad range of regulatory and compliance matters relating to SEC regulations, FRB and other banking regulations, FINRA rules, and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)/anti-money laundering

Mark Shaffer advises U.S. and foreign financial institutions, broker-dealers, cryptocurrency businesses, fintech companies, and digital payment companies on a broad range of regulatory and compliance matters relating to SEC regulations, FRB and other banking regulations, FINRA rules, and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)/anti-money laundering (AML) laws and regulations. He frequently helps clients understand how such laws and regulations map onto new technologies and innovative products.

Mark assists financial institutions, their employees, and associated persons to respond to regulatory examinations and inquiries and provides effective representation in a range of enforcement proceedings. Mark has handled enforcement matters involving issues relating to currency and equities market manipulation, collusion, insider trading, money laundering, OFAC sanctions, false statements, and accounting fraud. Throughout his career, Mark has represented clients before the U.S. Department of Justice and regulators such as the SEC, CFTC, Federal Reserve, FinCEN, OFAC, and the New York State Department of Financial Services.

Mark has assisted multiple banking entities in resolving MRAs and MRIAs, and in developing and implementing compliance programs and regulatory remediation plans. Mark also assists companies in staying current on material changes to applicable laws, rules and regulations, and helps to develop or amend their policies, procedures, controls, compliance manuals and related training.

Prior to joining the firm, Mark practiced at two large law firms in Washington, D.C. and served as an in-house counsel and compliance officer at a variety of global financial institutions. Mark clerked for Judge Richard L. Nygaard of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Photo of Daniel J. Wadley Daniel J. Wadley

Daniel Wadley is an experienced trial attorney with over 20 years of litigation experience, including an 11-year tenure at the SEC. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation; securities litigation; SEC regulatory compliance, investigations, and enforcement actions; auditor liability; financial services regulation and

Daniel Wadley is an experienced trial attorney with over 20 years of litigation experience, including an 11-year tenure at the SEC. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation; securities litigation; SEC regulatory compliance, investigations, and enforcement actions; auditor liability; financial services regulation and compliance; white collar defense; and corporate internal investigations.

Daniel possesses deep institutional knowledge of SEC policies, practices and procedures. Prior to joining GT, Daniel served as the Director of the SEC’s Salt Lake Regional Office where he oversaw and managed all of the office’s investigations, its federal court litigation, and its administrative proceedings. He was a member of the SEC’s FCPA unit and oversaw multiple investigations into FCPA violations. Before taking on the role of Regional Director, Daniel was trial counsel in the Division of Enforcement and also senior counsel to the Directors of Enforcement in Washington, D.C. In his trial counsel role, Daniel represented the SEC in securities enforcement matters filed throughout the United States in both federal district courts and in SEC administrative actions. As senior counsel to the Directors of Enforcement, Daniel helped shape and oversee Agency enforcement priorities and policy, reviewing all recommended actions and settlements pending before the Commission.

Daniel has led litigation teams in federal and state court actions throughout the country. His experience ranges from complex commercial litigation disputes to highly technical SEC regulatory compliance. He has represented the largest accounting firms in the world, as well as individuals, banks and financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate developers, and public and private companies both large and small. He has unique experience in matters involving regulatory filings; digital currencies; financial statement and accounting fraud; corporate mismanagement and internal controls violations; internal investigations; Foreign Corrupt Practice Act violations; insider trading; Ponzi scheme and offering frauds; and broker-dealer and Investment Adviser fraud.