Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, aren't likely to face more than a small fine or stern warning if the SEC ends up launching an investigation and bringing an enforcement action against Musk or the company, Nimish Patel, a partner at the law firm Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp who specializes in corporate and securities laws, told Business Insider. By first offering details for a potential go-private deal via Twitter, Musk followed the spirit of the SEC's rules about disclosing important information, Patel said.