Throughout the week over at Securities Docket, I highlight the most interesting columns and blog posts from around the web on the subjects of SEC enforcement and securities litigation. Here is a digest of my picks for the week ending July 29.

Is Securities Class Action Litigation Booming or Going Bust?

American Lawyer | Victor Li | Jul 29, 2011

As always, it also depends on who's counting and how. While the Cornerstone report suggests an anemic year for securities litigation, a report released last week by Advisen concluded that filings of corporate and securities actions remained "on par with the record-setting year of 2010." Both the Cornerstone and Advisen studies, however, agreed that China-related securities suits are on the rise.

SEC builds new tips machine to catch the next Madoff

Reuters | Sarah N. Lynch and Matthew Goldstein | Jul 27, 2011

The TCR Database is the SEC's most significant response to its well-documented fumbling of early tips about Madoff's $65 billion fraud. The SEC's new Office of Market Intelligence, which last summer also forged a first-of-its kind partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is using the database as a key tool. The changes are part of an effort by SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro to overcome the agency's reputation for being a step or two behind the bad guys. It is far too soon for the SEC to declare victory. But some of the agency's harshest critics notice a change.

The case against the bribery case against Murdoch

MediaFile | James Ledbetter | Jul 22, 2011

The argument that a successful U.S.-based bribery case can be built against Murdoch's company involves at least as much wishful thinking as it does legal acumen. There may be some effective ways to use the FCPA against News Corp, but nailing News Corp executives in the U.S. for police bribes in the UK requires an enormous, unprecedented stretch of the FCPA, and one which seems unlikely to stand up in court.

Wall Street Journal Goes On Offense

FCPA Professor | Mike Koehler | Jul 19, 2011

With the WSJ now suggesting that payments to police officers are “part of traditional news-gathering” – at least in certain countries – and it suggesting that paying sources for information is “common,” it may be possible that the next FCPA industry sweep will be of the media industry. Previous industry sweeps have included the oil and gas industry, a current sweep of the pharmaceutical / medical device industry that has been active for some time, and a recently initiated sweep of the financial services industry.

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