CFTC Commissioner J. Christopher Giancarlo announced the senior staff appointments of Jason Goggins and Marcia Blase. Jason Goggins will serve as Chief of Staff to Commissioner Giancarlo, and Marcia Blase will serve as Senior Counsel. See: Press Release.

The Futures Industry Association Europe ("FIA Europe") obtained two legal opinions under Capital Requirements Regulation Article 305(2)(c). The opinions enable clients of English clearing members of LCH.Clearnet Limited to "look through" their clearing member and apply a favorable two percent risk weight subject to certain conditions. The first opinion addresses the rules of LCH.Clearnet and the supporting law, while the second opinion addresses English insolvency law issues for English banks and investment firms, and certain other types of firms providing clearing member services in England

The MSRB announced that it will host an education and outreach seminar in Chicago on July 29, 2014. The seminar follows the July 1, 2014 implementation of the federal securities registration rule for municipal advisors. Topics to be discussed include municipal market structure issues and the development of new regulations for professionals that provide financial advice to state and local governments. The event will be held on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. CDT at the Conrad Hotel. S ee: Press Release; Seminar Agenda.Click here to register for the seminar.

The SEC Division of Corporation Finance ("the Division") issued a no-action letter concerning the Oshkosh Corporation's request to reorganize its operations to form a holding company structure in which Oshkosh will become a wholly owned subsidiary of a new holding company ("Holdco"). Among other things, the Division stated that it would not object if Holdco, as successor to Oshkosh, does not file new registration statements under the Securities Act for ongoing offerings of securities covered by the Oshkosh Registration Statements. This assessment assumes that Holdco adopts the Oshkosh

SEC Division of Investment Management Director Norm Champ delivered the keynote address at the 15th Annual Practising Law Institute Private Equity Forum. In his speech, Director Champ discussed alternative mutual funds (those that invest in alternative strategies, such as long/short, and those that invest in alternative assets such as currency or illiquid assets such as private debt) and their potential risks and benefits. He also discussed new developments within the SEC regarding alternative mutual funds. According to Director Champ, the use of alternative investment strategies by open-end