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Case 1:23-cv-01599-ABJ-ZMF Document 198 Filed 12/15/23 Page 1 of 6
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION,
Plaintiff,
v.
No. 1-23-cv-01599-ABJ-ZMF
BINANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED,
BAM TRADING SERVICES INC.,
BAM MANAGEMENT US HOLDINGS
INC., AND CHANGPENG ZHAO,
Defendants.
JOINT STATUS REPORT
Pursuant to the Court’s direction at the November 27 hearing, Plaintiff Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and Defendants BAM Management US Holdings Inc., BAM
Trading Services Inc. (collectively, “BAM”), Binance Holdings Limited (“Binance” or “BHL”),
and Changpeng Zhao, respectfully submit this Joint Status Report.
I.
BAM-Related Discovery
A. Document Discovery
BAM is continuing to produce documents and communications in response to the SEC’s
September 21, 2023 requests, including productions within the last several weeks that the SEC is
processing, reviewing, and (for many documents where necessary) translating.
For certain
requests for Slack communications, BAM encountered technical issues processing data that have
resulted in delays. BAM has resolved those issues and is reviewing communications potentially
responsive to the SEC’s requests. In addition, BAM is evaluating whether there are certain
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Case 1:23-cv-01599-ABJ-ZMF Document 198 Filed 12/15/23 Page 2 of 6
responsive chats stored on devices within its possession, custody, and control but has not yet
identified any such communications. The SEC and BAM are continuing to meet and confer on
the SEC’s document requests, including as to whether specific document requests have been
reasonably satisfied and the anticipated completion date for all productions. The SEC reserves the
right to pursue further production of documents and communications consistent with the Consent
Order, and BAM reserves the right to ask the Court to end expedited discovery with respect to
BAM once BAM believes it has reasonably satisfied the SEC’s requests. The parties will continue
to attempt to narrow any disputes about BAM’s responses to the SEC’s document requests before
the next status report to the Court.
B. Depositions
Since the November 27 hearing, the SEC has taken four additional depositions of BAM
personnel and is scheduled to take another deposition on December 15. One of those fact witnesses
was also designated as a Rule 30(b)(6) deponent for one noticed topic. The parties will continue
to meet and confer on the scope of topics in the SEC’s Rule 30(b)(6) deposition notice after the
inspection of BAM’s systems and software. BAM reserves the right to object to any additional
Rule 30(b)(6) deposition following the meet and confer process and in light of the information
provided to the SEC through other discovery and depositions.
After completing the meet and confer process for the Rule 30(b)(6) deposition or
completing that deposition, whichever is later, consistent with the Court’s direction at the
September 18 hearing, the parties will submit to the Court their positions on the SEC’s pending
requests for the depositions of BAM’s former CEO and CFO. The SEC reserves the right to seek
additional deposition testimony from BAM personnel, including those already deposed, based on
ongoing discovery, including documents and communications the SEC did not receive until after
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Case 1:23-cv-01599-ABJ-ZMF Document 198 Filed 12/15/23 Page 3 of 6
the relevant deposition took place, or that were produced shortly before a deposition such that the
SEC lacked sufficient time to include in the examination of relevant witnesses. BAM objects to
deposing additional witnesses or re-deposing witnesses, and believes that the SEC has had
adequate time to review documents and prepare to question witnesses about pertinent topics.
The parties will continue to meet and confer and attempt to narrow any disagreements
regarding depositions before the next status report to the Court.
C. Inspection
On December 14, BAM proposed that the requested inspection of its technology
infrastructure, systems, and software take place virtually at 7 pm ET on December 21, and the SEC
is currently considering BAM’s proposal. The parties will continue to meet and confer and attempt
to narrow any disagreements on the scope, timing, and process of the inspection before the next
status report to the Court.
D. Part IV of Consent Order
BAM has agreed to consider providing information in response to the SEC’s remaining
questions regarding information produced pursuant to Part IV of the Consent Order. The parties
will meet and confer on these issues and will report on any disputes in the next status report to the
Court.
II.
Binance/Zhao-Related Discovery
A. Document Productions
BHL has produced System and Organization Controls (“SOC”) reports that BAM’s CISO
described in his deposition and has also agreed to consider the SEC’s request for any other SOC
reports that apply to technological infrastructure, systems, and software relevant to BAM’s
customer or corporate assets. BHL has also agreed to consider producing chat messages over
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Case 1:23-cv-01599-ABJ-ZMF Document 198 Filed 12/15/23 Page 4 of 6
which BAM confirmed at the last hearing it does not have possession, custody, or control, and the
SEC has agreed to identify parameters for this request to help facilitate BHL’s search for
responsive documents. Before the next status report to the Court, the parties will also continue to
meet and confer concerning the SEC’s requests. 1 The SEC reserves the right to pursue further
production of documents and communications, and BHL and Mr. Zhao likewise reserve the right
to object.
B. Depositions
BHL has proposed producing a fact witness to address the issues regarding access to
BAM’s customer and corporate crypto assets discussed at the last hearing, subject to certain
conditions the parties are negotiating. Before the next status report to the Court, the parties will
meet and confer and seek to schedule the date and location of this deposition. The SEC plans to
also seek deposition testimony from other BHL and Zhao-related fact and corporate representative
witnesses, including those the SEC previously noticed. BHL and Mr. Zhao reserve the right to
object to such deposition requests. The parties will continue to meet and confer and attempt to
narrow any disagreements regarding the scope, timing, location, and number of depositions.
III.
Proposed Protective Order
On December 12, 2023, the SEC asked Defendants to propose a protective order to address
Defendants’ concerns about the confidentiality of their information as well as the Court’s
November 14, 2023 Minute Order, and Defendants intend to do so.
1
The SEC continues to reserve the right to seek further relief from the Court if the parties are
unable to resolve pending issues regarding Binance’s productions in response to Section IV of
the Consent Order. See SEC Memo. Supp. Mot. to Compel, at 15 n.4, Dkt. No. 114-1. Pending
issues include Binance’s continued withholding of information required under Section IV
pending entry of a protective order.
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Case 1:23-cv-01599-ABJ-ZMF Document 198 Filed 12/15/23 Page 5 of 6
IV.
Proposed Status Update
The parties propose providing the Court with the next status report on January 25, 2023.
The parties reserve the right to seek a hearing with the Court sooner if necessary to resolve ongoing
disputes.
Dated: December 15, 2023
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Daniel W. Nelson
Daniel W. Nelson (D.C. Bar #433415)
Richard W. Grime
Jason J. Mendro (D.C. Bar #482040)
Stephanie Brooker
M. Kendall Day
GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP
1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036-5306
DNelson@gibsondunn.com
RGrime@gibsondunn.com
JMendro@gibsondunn.com
SBrooker@gibsondunn.com
KDay@gibsondunn.com
/s/ Matthew Scarlato
Matthew F. Scarlato (D.C. Bar No. 484124)
Jennifer L. Farer (D.C. Bar No. 1013915)
David A. Nasse
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549-9040
(202) 551-3749 (Scarlato)
nassed@sec.gov
farerj@sec.gov
scarlatom@sec.gov
J. Emmett Murphy
Jorge G. Tenreiro
Elisa S. Solomon
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
100 Pearl Street
New York, NY 10004
(212) 336-0078 (Murphy)
murphyjoh@sec.gov
tenreiroj@sec.gov
solomonel@sec.gov
Attorneys for Defendant Binance
Holdings Limited
Attorneys for Plaintiff Securities and
Exchange Commission
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Case 1:23-cv-01599-ABJ-ZMF Document 198 Filed 12/15/23 Page 6 of 6
/s/ Abid Qureshi
Abid R. Qureshi (D.C. Bar No. 459227)
William R. Baker, III (D.C. Bar No.
383944)
Erik S. Volkman (D.C. Bar No. 490999)
Michael E. Bern (D.C. Bar No. 994791)
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
555 Eleventh Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004
Tel: (202) 637-2200
Fax: (202) 637-2201
abid.qureshi@lw.com
william.baker@lw.com
eric.volkman@lw.com
michael.bern@lw.com
Douglas K. Yatter
Benjamin Naftalis
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Tel: (212) 906-1200
Fax: (212) 751-4864
douglas.yatter@lw.com
benjamin.naftalis@lw.com
Heather A. Waller
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800
Chicago, IL 60611
Tel: (312) 876-7700
Fax: (312) 993-9767
heather.waller@lw.com
/s/ Matthew T. Martens
Matthew T. Martens
William R. McLucas
WILMER CUTLER PICKERING HALE AND
DORR LLP
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 663-6921
Fax: (202) 663-6363
matthew.martens@wilmerhale.com
william.mclucas@wilmerhale.com
Tiffany J. Smith
WILMER CUTLER PICKERING HALE
AND DORR LLP
7 World Trade Center
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
tiffany.smith@wilmerhale.com
George S. Canellos
Matthew Laroche
MILBANK LLP
55 Hudson Yards
New York, NY 10001-2163
212-530-5792
gcanellos@milbank.com
mlaroche@milbank.com
Attorneys for Defendants BAM Trading Services
Inc. and BAM Management Holdings
US Inc.
Melanie M. Blunschi
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
505 Montgomery Street, Suite 2000
San Francisco, CA 94111-6538
Tel: (415) 391-0600
Fax: (415) 395-8095
melanie.blunschi@lw.com
Attorneys for Defendant Changpeng Zhao
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