How to get out of an SEC Subpoena

Last Updated on: 2nd June 2025, 10:02 pm

SEC Subpoena? Here’s How We Make It Go Away

The SEC just dropped a subpoena on your desk. Your hands are shaking. I get it—happened to a hedge fund manager last Tuesday, guy literally threw up in my conference room. Here’s what you need to know: that piece of paper isn’t a death sentence. We’ve killed more SEC subpoenas than most lawyers have even seen.

They Want You to Panic. Don’t.

Listen—the SEC enforcement division sent you that subpoena for one reason. They want you scared. Want you making mistakes. Calling your business partners at 2 AM, deleting emails , hiring the first lawyer who picks up the phone. That’s exactly how they build cases against people who did nothing wrong.

Bottom line? We don’t let that happen.

Last month in the Southern District, we got subpoena completely quashed. Investment advisor, accused of front-running. The SEC wanted 5 years of trading records, all client communications, personal bank statements—the works. We filed our motion to quash under Rule 45. Judge Torres took one look at their fishing expedition and shut it down. Case over. Client back to work.

That’s what aggressive representation looks like.

THE FIRST 48 HOURS MATTER

Here’s where most people screw up—they wait. They think about it. They ask their golf buddy who “knows a lawyer.” Meanwhile, the SEC is building their narrative. Every hour you waste is an hour they’re ahead of you.

When that subpoena hits, you’ve got immediate decisions: – What documents actually exist? – What’s privileged? – What’s already been destroyed in normal course? – Who else got served?

And here’s the thing nobody tells you—the SEC makes mistakes. All the time. Defective service. Exceeded scope of authority. Improper issuance. We catch these errors because we know where to look.

Their Playbook (And Why It Usually Works)

The SEC runs the same play every time. Broad subpoena. Impossible deadlines. Threats of contempt. They’re counting on you rolling over. Giving them everything. Including the rope to hang you with.

Fun fact: 73% of SEC enforcement actions start with “voluntary” document production. Voluntary my ass. They intimidate people into handing over documents they never had to produce. Documents that weren’t even covered by the subpoena. Documents that turn nothing-cases into federal crimes.

We don’t play that game.

Real Ways Out (That Actually Work)

Motion to Quash under FRCP 45—this is our first weapon. The SEC loves to cast wide nets, demanding “all documents relating to…” That’s not how subpoenas work. We’ve gotten subpoenas quashed for: – Overbreadth (their favorite trick) – Undue burden – Lack of relevance – Improper service – Exceeding statutory authority

Just last week, SDNY case, we challenged SEC subpoena seeking 10 years of emails. Judge called it a “fishing expedition.” Reduced to 6 months, only specific transactions. That’s the difference between career over and minor inconvenience.

The Fifth Amendment—Your Secret Weapon

Everyone knows about the right to remain silent. Nobody understands how it applies to SEC subpoenas. Here’s the deal: if producing documents might incriminate you, you can assert the Fifth. But—and this is crucial—you gotta do it right.

Document-by-document privilege log. Specific assertions. No blanket refusals. The SEC will push back, claim you’re hiding something. That’s when we push harder.

I remember this cryptocurrency trader, kid was 26, SEC wanted all his wallet addresses and trading history. We went through 400 pages of documents. Asserted the Fifth on 127 specific items. SEC backed down. Never even got to court.

That’s preparation. That’s strategy. That’s how you win.

When They Play Dirty (They Always Do)

The SEC has tricks. Serving subpoenas on Friday afternoon. “Informal” requests that aren’t really informal. Threats about “cooperation credit” if you just hand everything over. My favorite? When they cc the DOJ on correspondence. Trying to scare you with criminal referrals.

We’ve seen it all. And we don’t blink.

True story—private equity fund manager, SEC claimed he was running a Ponzi scheme. Complete BS. They subpoenaed his wife. His accountant. His kid’s college fund records. Why? Because they wanted him to crack. Make a deal. Admit to something—anything—to make it stop.

We went nuclear. Motion for protective order. Complaint to SEC Inspector General. FOIA requests for their investigation files. Turns out, the lead investigator had a grudge—our client testified against him in a prior case. Whole investigation shut down. Subpoenas withdrawn. SEC had to issue an apology.

You can’t get results like that being nice.

What It Really Costs (The Truth)

Other firms will quote you hourly rates. Tell you it depends. String you along while the meter runs. Here’s our approach: we know what it takes to kill an SEC subpoena. We’ve done it hundreds of times. We quote flat fees because we’re not afraid of the work.

Want to know what really costs? Hiring lawyers who are scared of the SEC. Who think “cooperation” means “capitulation.” Who bill you $50,000 to help you surrender.

We charge to win. Period.

The Timeline Nobody Tells You

SEC gives you 14 days to respond? That’s not real. We get extensions. Always. They act like the world’s ending if you don’t produce documents immediately. It’s a lie. Federal judges don’t like rushed proceedings any more than we do.

Realistic timeline: – Day 1-3: Emergency response team assembled – Day 4-7: Document preservation and privilege review – Day 8-14: Strategic response planning – Day 15-30: Negotiations or motion practice – Day 31-60: Resolution (usually)

Some cases take longer. Especially when the SEC is being unreasonable. But most subpoenas? Dead within 60 days. If you have the right lawyers.

Why Prosecutors Hate Us (Good)

At the SEC’s New York Regional Office, 200 Vesey Street, they know our name. Not because we play golf with them. Because we’ve beaten them. Repeatedly. They know when we show up, their easy case just got hard.

Assistant Regional Directors have literally told clients—”Why did you hire them?” You know why? Because we don’t make their jobs easy. We don’t facilitate their investigations. We protect our clients.

The SEC has a job to do. So do we. Guess who works harder?

Your Move

Right now, you’re staring at that subpoena. Maybe you’re googling “SEC enforcement process.” Maybe you’re thinking about calling your corporate lawyer—the one who does your contracts.

Stop.

This isn’t a corporate law problem. It’s a fight. And you need fighters.

We’ve killed SEC subpoenas for: – Hedge fund managers accused of insider trading – Crypto exchanges facing market manipulation claims – Investment advisors in front-running investigations – Public company executives in accounting fraud probes – Private equity funds under examination

Every time, same approach: Attack the subpoena. Protect the client. Win the fight.

Here’s the bottom line—that SEC subpoena is either the beginning of the end, or it’s a speed bump. Depends who’s driving.

Call us. Today. Not tomorrow. Not after you’ve talked to three other firms who told you to “cooperate fully.” Call the lawyers who make SEC enforcement attorneys lose sleep.