William Barry was quoted in Global Investigations Review on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) rescission of its long-standing "gag rule," noting that the change "shifts fundamentally the way SEC settlements operate in practice." Barry explained that the repeal allows settling parties to publicly contest the SEC's allegations while preserving the benefits of resolution, reducing the agency's control over the narrative surrounding settlements. "When a settlement or its underlying facts are described in a way that is particularly egregious, companies now have a meaningful ability to protect their reputations," Barry said.