Global companies should incorporate AML risks into their risk analysis of their third-party distributors, agents and other intermediaries. The basic questionnaire, due diligence risk analysis, contractual provisions, training, and partner code of conduct should reflect attention to this risk. To the extent that global companies rely on a network of third-party distributors and sub-distributors, global companies should include contractual provisions to flow-down policies and requirements...

Non-financial institution companies operating in the global marketplace face ever-increasing risks of money laundering. Sophisticated criminal organizations have developed their own mechanisms and strategies to skirt money laundering rules and regulations. The Justice Department has targeted transnational organized crime for investigation and prosecution. As a consequence, non-financial institutions have to examine their policies and procedures to protect against handling proceeds of criminal activity or otherwise...

The Department of Justice announced criminal FCPA charges against two individuals in connection with bribery payments to foreign officials in Chad and Uganda. The Justice Department’s announcement occurred on the heels of unsealing criminal FCPA charges against 7 individuals arising from two separate investigations or enforcement actions. The FCPA Unit’s recent actions underscore that the Yates Memorandum appears to have had an impact on the...

Global companies face ever-increasing risks with sanctions screening and compliance.  The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (“OFAC”) has aggressively enforced complex sanctions regulations against global companies, including banks, manufacturing, oil service and technology companies.  In this aggressive enforcement era, companies have to implement robust screening and compliance controls to identify sanctioned entities and individuals among their business partners and customers. In this...

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 12 noon EST Sign Up Here Global antitrust enforcement programs create significant risks for global companies. In the United States, criminal antitrust risks are significant for companies and individual officers and managers. Global companies can suffer fines, reputational damage and related collateral litigation. Compounding these risks is the mature international antitrust enforcement programs that increase financial and reputational risks. Global antitrust...

Lauren Connell, Managing Associate at The Volkov Law Group, rejoins us for a posting about ISO 37001 certification for your third parties.  Lauren can be reached at [email protected]. A lot of the focus on ISO 37001 so far has been on its value for companies considering certification as evidence of the quality of their own compliance program. With the SEC and DOJ both providing ample...

I like to repeat myself – attorneys are valuable for only two reasons: (1) attorney-client privilege; and (2) advice of counsel defense. I know I am not supposed to denigrate my profession but these are two important reasons, especially the attorney-client privilege. In the context of corporate internal investigations, the attorney-client privilege is an essential tool when conducting internal investigations involving serious issues. I am...

In this era of aggressive enforcement, global companies have to integrate beneficial ownership requirements when conducting due diligence of business associates and when engaging customers. For most businesses, beneficial ownership is critical in two main legal contexts: sanctions compliance and FCPA risk. Both of these areas present significant risks to any US company conducting business overseas, regardless of what industry. Of course financial institutions face...

In a watershed week for FCPA enforcement, the US Department of Justice announced FCPA criminal charges against seven individuals.  Specifically, the Justice Department announced four guilty pleas and one indictment as follow on prosecutions to the January 2017 Rolls Royce FCPA enforcement action, and two guilty pleas in a yet to be announced enforcement action against SBM Offshore. The Justice Department’s unprecedented week underscored that...

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 12 noon EST Sign Up Here Global antitrust enforcement programs create significant risks for global companies. In the United States, criminal antitrust risks are significant for companies and individual officers and managers. Global companies can suffer fines, reputational damage and related collateral litigation. Compounding these risks is the mature international antitrust enforcement programs that increase financial and reputational risks. Global antitrust...