Key takeaways: 

• On March 3, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) newly-renamed Division of Examinations (“EXAMS” or “Division”) released its 2021 Examination Priorities (“2021 Priorities”).
• While many of the priorities highlighted in this year’s publication reflect classic areas of concern, the 2021 Priorities also reflect a clear focus on adaptations to processes necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The 2021 Priorities also reflect new scrutiny of Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) related matters, a policy priority for the SEC under the Biden Administration, as well as attention to Regulation Best Interest (“Reg BI”) compliance and related scrutiny on complex products.