Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Insider Trading Liability

By Jon R. Grabowski and Michael A. Sabino
June 01, 2016

In the wake of recent insider trading decisions issued by the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Second and Ninth Circuits, the Supreme Court has granted certiorari to determine if proof of a close family relationship is enough to satisfy the personal benefit requirement laid out in previous decisions addressing tipper-tippee liability under Section 10 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. See Salman v. United States, cert. granted, __U.S.__ (No. 15-628) (Jan. 19, 2015). The forthcoming decision will undoubtedly set the table for all future insider trading actions brought by both the government and private parties, forcing individuals and firms to adjust their practices to the Court's holding in order to guard against exposure to potential insider trading liability.

Supreme Court Precedent

As first set forth in Dirks v. S.E.C., the Supreme Court has long stood by its postulation of the elements necessary for a finding of tippee liability arising out of a corporate insider's breach of fiduciary duty. Specifically, under Dirks, the following elements must be satisfied for there to be a finding of tipper and tippee liability: 1) the corporate insider was entrusted with a fiduciary duty; 2) the corporate insider breached his fiduciary duty by (a) disclosing confidential information to a tippee (b) in exchange for a personal benefit; 3) the tippee knew of the tipper's breach, that is, he knew the information was confidential and divulged for personal benefit; and 4) the tippee still used that information to trade in a security or tip another individual for personal benefit. See Dirks v. S.E.C., 463 U.S. 646 (1983).

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

Legal Possession: What Does It Mean? Image

Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.

The Stranger to the Deed Rule Image

In 1987, a unanimous Court of Appeals reaffirmed the vitality of the "stranger to the deed" rule, which holds that if a grantor executes a deed to a grantee purporting to create an easement in a third party, the easement is invalid. Daniello v. Wagner, decided by the Second Department on November 29th, makes it clear that not all grantors (or their lawyers) have received the Court of Appeals' message, suggesting that the rule needs re-examination.