With all the hoopla these days about the FCPA, UK Bribery Act and other anti-corruption law enforcement, you would expect that every company has initiated some compliance actions.  With guidance provided by Justice Department filings and settlements, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, the OECD, and the UK Ministry of Justice, companies have certainly available resources to assist them in the compliance arena. A 2011 KPMG survey, however, paints a...

With all the hoopla these days about the FCPA, UK Bribery Act and other anti-corruption law enforcement, you would expect that every company has initiated some compliance actions.  With guidance provided by Justice Department filings and settlements, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, the OECD, and the UK Ministry of Justice, companies have certainly available resources to assist them in the compliance arena. A 2011 KPMG survey, however, paints a...

The importance of  anti-corruption training is often understated in comparison to other elements of a successful anti-corruption compliance program.  Perhaps we should start with the term “training” and broaden the concept to what it really is — “communicating, listening and responding.”  For compliance officers and staff, training programs is the one critical opportunity to educate, listen and learn from the audience.  It is a two-way communication...

The SEC adopted rules to implement the new whistleblower program authorized by the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill.  In a 3-2 vote, following party lines, the SEC adopted the rules over a vigorous defense that the new program will undermine corporate compliance programs by financially rewarding whistleblowers who circumvent existing compliance program reporting requirements. The whistleblower office receives about 1-2 credible reports every day, according to...

As part of my continuing series on building an anti-corruption compliance program from scratch, we need to work on the next step in our continuing series.  In yesterday’s post I described the risk assessment process.  So, your Bible is now complete.  Your risk assessment outlines potential risks and covers the following: geographic areas of operation and levels of corruption in these countries; industry corruption levels and enforcement...

The importance of compliance officers in today’s business is on the rise.  This trend reflects the increasing importance of risk management and proactive compliance to minimize those risks. But there is more for a compliance officer to do then simply manage and minimize risks.  Indeed, the role of the compliance officer needs to extend into day-to-day business operations; the more this occurs the better off...

The importance of compliance officers in today’s business is on the rise.  This trend reflects the increasing importance of risk management and proactive compliance to minimize those risks. But there is more for a compliance officer to do then simply manage and minimize risks.  Indeed, the role of the compliance officer needs to extend into day-to-day business operations; the more this occurs the better off...

What if – and this is a big what if – your company is starting from scratch on its anti-corruption compliance program? Your company’s Code of Conduct includes a paragraph prohibiting foreign bribery and mandating accurate books and records, and says little more. Some companies are able to relate to these questions. At the outset, your company has to recognize a couple of reality checks...

One of the eleven defendants charged in the online poker criminal case in the New York has plead guilty and agreed to cooperate.  Bradley Franzen plead guilty in court today and admitted to assisting oinline poker companies to process their internet gambling transactions.  Mr. Franzen’s company aided the copnspiracy by matching online poker sites with electronic-payment processors.  He admitted that he matched such services and sought to...

One of the eleven defendants charged in the online poker criminal case in the New York has plead guilty and agreed to cooperate.  Bradley Franzen plead guilty in court today and admitted to assisting oinline poker companies to process their internet gambling transactions.  Mr. Franzen’s company aided the copnspiracy by matching online poker sites with electronic-payment processors.  He admitted that he matched such services and sought to...