In this episode, Shadow Representative Oye Owolewa joins D.C. Affairs Community Co-Chair Angela Parsons to discuss the history of the District of Columbia Shadow Delegation, and explain how it differs from that of the District’s Congressional Delegate. He emphasizes how D.C.’s lack of full voting representation affects the District’s ability to control its budget, pass local laws, and exercise meaningful home rule. The conversation also explores the historical development of D.C.’s political status, the practical consequences of Congressional oversight, and what fuller representation could mean for governance in the nation’s capital. For attorneys, law students, and anyone interested in the intersection of constitutional structure and local autonomy, this episode offers a historical and substantive look at how representation shapes life in Washington, D.C.

The D.C. Affairs Community is proud to present this podcast with a reminder that the history of D.C. is the history of our Nation.

Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations. Participation in this podcast does not constitute endorsement of any candidate, campaign, or political position by the D.C. Bar or D.C. Bar Communities.

In this Season 3 episode, co-hosts Valerie Mirko, Partner at Armstrong Teasdale LLP and leader of the firm’s Securities Regulation and Litigation Practice, and William Nelson, Director of Public Policy and Associate General Counsel at the Investment Adviser Association, break down a timely set of regulatory and legislative developments shaping today’s securities landscape.

The conversation begins with a recent House Financial Services Committee hearing, A New Day at the SEC: Restoring Accountability, Due Process, and Public Confidence, and why many in the industry have welcomed the hearing as an opportunity to reinforce transparency, accountability, and adherence to the SEC’s core mission - particularly in the Commission’s rulemaking and enforcement processes.

Valerie and William also discuss the SEC’s recent January 30, 2026 statement on tokenization, highlighting how the Commission is thinking about the application of the federal securities laws to traditional asset classes as new technologies reshape market infrastructure. The episode wraps up with a look at FINRA’s rule modernization initiative, including a proposed update to the outside business activities rule, and how FINRA's efforts are aligning with broader SEC and congressional priorities.

A must-listen for securities lawyers, compliance professionals, regulators, and others navigating a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.

Recent Past Episodes of this Series:

A Study in Contrasts: Innovation and Crypto versus the Crypto Fraud Landscape (1/21/2026)

⁠A Year of Change, Challenges, and What Comes Next⁠ (12/17/2025)

⁠⁠When Washington Stops: What the 2025 Shutdown Means for the SEC and Congress Going Forward⁠⁠ (11/19/2025)

⁠⁠⁠⁠The SEC’s New Direction: Enforcement and Governance in Focus⁠⁠⁠⁠ (10/22/25)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠From Memecoins to Custody: What Firms Need to Know About Crypto⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (9/24/25)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Corp Fin in Flux: What the SEC’s Latest Moves Mean for Issuers and Investors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (8/13/25)

Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations.

In the Season 3 premiere, co-hosts Valerie Mirko, Partner at Armstrong Teasdale LLP and leader of the firm’s Securities Regulation and Litigation Practice, and William Nelson, Director of Public Policy and Associate General Counsel at the Investment Adviser Association, are joined by Caitlin Barnett, Director of Regulation & Compliance at Chainalysis for a timely, practical conversation on how crypto fraud is evolving - and what lawyers, regulators, and compliance professionals need to know now. This episode complements prior crypto episodes and addresses the misuse of innovation, which harms investors and erodes confidence in crypto and innovation.

Drawing on Chainalysis’s frontline experience, Caitlin explains how crypto fraud has advanced, dispels common misconceptions, and breaks down how blockchain forensics works in practice—from spotting suspicious activity to tracing funds. The conversation then turns to regulatory and compliance implications, including where crypto fraud most directly intersects with securities law, common compliance gaps for regulated firms, and what it takes to move from on-chain activity to real-world attribution and recovery. The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion of emerging fraud techniques, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence.

A must-listen for securities lawyers, compliance officers, regulators, and others navigating the rapidly evolving crypto enforcement landscape.

Recent Past Episodes of this Series:

A Year of Change, Challenges, and What Comes Next (12/17/2025)

⁠When Washington Stops: What the 2025 Shutdown Means for the SEC and Congress Going Forward⁠ (11/19/2025)

⁠⁠⁠The SEC’s New Direction: Enforcement and Governance in Focus⁠⁠⁠ (10/22/25)

⁠⁠⁠⁠From Memecoins to Custody: What Firms Need to Know About Crypto⁠⁠⁠⁠ (9/24/25)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Corp Fin in Flux: What the SEC’s Latest Moves Mean for Issuers and Investors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (8/13/25)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AI in the Investment Adviser Industry⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (7/16/25)

Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations.