New SPAC Rules Help or Hinder Market Access?
In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Nick Morgan, Partner at Paul Hastings LLP and co-founder of ICAN (Investor Choice Advocates Network), discusses the SEC’s new SPAC rules and their impact on investor access.
Nick argues that while the rules were framed as investor protection, in practice they reflect what he calls a “protection through prohibition” mindset. By making disclosure obligations more difficult and transaction costs higher, the rules effectively reduce the number of SPACs and with them, the opportunities available to everyday investors.
For Nick and ICAN, the core principle is simple:
Some SPACs will be good, some will be bad, but it should be up to investors to decide not regulators restricting access.
This conversation is essential for anyone interested in the balance between investor protection and investor choice in today’s capital markets.
Connect with the Guest:
Nick Morgan – Partner, Paul Hastings LLP | Co-Founder, ICAN
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasrmorgan/
View all of their episodes here:
https://www.thespacpodcast.com/guests/nick-morgan/
Connect with the Hosts & The SPAC Podcast:
Michael Blankenship LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeblankenship/
Joshua Wilson LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/
YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@Thespacpodcast
Contact The SPAC Podcast:
https://www.thespacpodcast.com/contact/
#SPACs #CapitalMarkets #SPACPodcast #InvestorAccess #MarketRegulation #ICAN #SEC
Disclaimers:
The views, opinions, and statements expressed by the guest are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The SPAC Podcast, its hosts, or affiliated organizations. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice.
Michael J. Blankenship is a licensed attorney and is a partner at Winston & Strawn LLP. Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The content of this podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal, financial, or compliance advice. The views and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of any regulatory agency, law firm, employer, or organization.
Listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel, compliance professionals, or financial advisors to ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations, including those enforced by the SEC, FINRA, and other regulatory bodies. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation, offer, or recommendation of any financial products, securities transactions, or legal services.
Let’s Connect on LinkedIn:
👉 Michael J. Blankenship - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeblankenship/
👉 ...
Michael Blankenship:
ICAN favors expanding market access and challenging paternalistic restrictions that lock everyday Americans out of wealth-building opportunities. Do the new SPAC rules, with their focus on investor protection, ultimately help or hinder that goal?
Nick Morgan:
In our view, these rules restrict everyday investors from making their own decisions.
Under Chair Gensler’s SEC, the rules reflected a “protection through prohibition” mindset: protect retail investors by making it harder to invest in what regulators deem risky. In practice, that meant increasing disclosure obligations and costs, reducing the number of SPAC transactions.
Our view is simple: some SPACs will be good, some will be bad but the SEC’s role is anti-fraud enforcement, not blocking opportunities. Ultimately, investors should have the choice to participate, even if the risk profile differs from traditional IPOs.