On January 27, 2025, SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce delivered the Alan B. Levenson Keynote Address at the Northwestern Securities Regulation Institute.  Continuing her practice of devising engaging titles for her speeches, these remarks are titled Sheep in the Steep.  She begins with a description of how the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep “navigate the treacherous alpine terrains of their habitat.”  She then compares “the bighorn—making their way in a terrain that is steep, varied, and fraught with danger, including predators, avalanches, and disease” to “public companies navigating the hazardous regulatory, political, and societal landscape of today.”

Commissioner Peirce suggests seven steps to “offer a path toward more level, predictable terrain” for public companies.  Each of the seven steps, along with her thoughtful discussion behind each step, make for interesting reading.  Her step six is particularly relevant for professionals involved in public company reporting:

“A sixth step in bringing companies back to normal is for the Commission staff in our Division of Corporation Finance and Office of the Chief Accountant to re-double efforts to provide guidance to companies about the many disclosure issues that arise in the normal course of business. In the registration statement review process, staff should communicate early and often so new and seasoned issuers alike can have increased confidence in offering timelines. Of course, engagement on timing alone is not enough. The Commission also should encourage the expert staff to engage with public companies and their lawyers and accountants on difficult questions about the application of new and existing rules. This engagement should be dynamic and interactive, not formulaic. Commission staff time is well spent on these fundamental functions of a disclosure regulator, which in recent years have languished due to other Commission priorities.”

As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome!