Anti-Corruption & Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Anti-Corruption & Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Our team has unsurpassed experience in counseling and defending U.S. and foreign companies and individuals in matters relating to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar anti-corruption laws. We are frequently contacted when a potential corruption issue arises, and are go-to counsel for investigations and enforcement proceedings before the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Multilateral Development Banks, including the World Bank. In addition, we advise clients considering transactions in high-risk markets or with business partners with high anti-corruption risks. We also counsel clients who are designing compliance programs and in conducting risk assessments.
Our Practice
We help some of the world’s best-known companies resolve multi-regulator, global anti-corruption investigations either without any enforcement action, where possible, or by achieving resolutions significantly more favorable than the government’s initial assessment. We have also successfully represented numerous foreign and U.S. executives and board members in criminal and civil investigations arising under the FCPA and related laws.
Our team includes the architect and chief enforcement official responsible for the modern FCPA program at the DOJ. It also includes nationally recognized trial lawyers, numerous former federal prosecutors and SEC officials, and a former chief ethics and compliance officer of a Fortune 200 company, all with extensive experience in all aspects of the FCPA. With our unique balance of behind-the-scenes knowledge and depth of experience, we can anticipate and respond to complex anti-corruption challenges that others might miss. We have an active docket of matters before the DOJ and SEC, giving us regular contact with lawyers representing the U.S. government and other enforcement authorities in foreign bribery investigations.
Investigations and Enforcement Proceedings: We conduct internal investigations around the world and across virtually all industries, and routinely represent clients in enforcement proceedings and investigations before foreign regulatory and enforcement agencies, such as the U.K. Serious Fraud Office, in conjunction with our legal partners around the globe. We also advise boards of directors, audit committees, general counsels and senior management regarding the design, implementation and enhancement of compliance programs, disciplinary actions impacting company employees and remedial measures for companies worldwide.
Compliance and Due Diligence: We focus on reducing future risk by keeping companies and boards ahead of the enforcement curve, and have performed hundreds of transactional due diligence and risk assessments related to anti-corruption compliance. Clients also rely on us to design and assess compliance programs, policies and procedures and to conduct employee and board training. We advise clients on a daily basis on the adequacy of business partner and third-party due diligence, structuring joint venture compliance, and entering high-risk businesses and geographical locations.