By Cydney Posner

In case you're having trouble getting a response to your pressing securities law question from Corp Fin's chief counsel's office by telephone (202-551-3500), now you can be equally frustrated by submitting a question via email using this new form (unearthed by Corp Counsel). The form instructs you not to also call Corp Fin to make your request because that would be double-dipping. But take heart, the form advises that you "can expect to receive a call from the attorney or accountant assigned to your matter within one business day." (That's what they say on the telephone too, and we all know how reliable that is.) The instructions also advise that you research all available authority before contacting the SEC and include the results of your research with your question. Although your question is submitted by email, the staff's responses will be given telephonically.

Remember that interpretive advice from the SEC staff is just that-- informal staff advice-- not a rule or statement of the SEC itself, nor is any response necessarily binding on anyone, except maybe you. As a matter of policy, Corp Fin does not provide informal advice on certain topics, such as "affiliate" or "control" status.

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