Each new year brings new developments in securities litigation and enforcement. With this year’s securities law trends just beginning to take shape, now is the time to reflect on last year and anticipate what is on the horizon for 2023. Companies should expect to see the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)—armed with an additional $210 million in funding this year—continue to flex its regulatory muscles. With many market forecasters still predicting an economic downturn in 2023, companies can also expect shareholders to try and recoup any market losses through securities class action litigation.

Traditional securities fraud issues, such as market manipulation and insider trading, will remain priorities for both the government and private plaintiffs alike. But newer trends—such as environmental, social, and governance (ESG), cybersecurity-related disclosure violations, and cryptocurrency regulation—are likely to provide further fuel for securities litigation and enforcement in the coming year.

A Big Year for the SEC and Private Plaintiffs