I continue to be astounded by one simple fact (candidly there are others) – companies do not understand that creating and maintaining an ethical culture improves bottom-line financial performance.  A commitment to ethics as an enhancement to an existing compliance program not only improves performance of the compliance program, but improves corporate profitability and long-term shareholder value. From my days as a history major, I...

Lawyers like to be dramatic.  Litigators love to be dramatic.  When it comes to a “bet the company” scandal, the company’s survival will depend not only on the quality of an internal investigation, but the company’s broader “crisis management” skills. There is no question when the stakes are high; an internal investigation must be conducted in a professional and careful manner so that it can...

The increase in AML enforcement has focused on sanctions violations.  The problem continues to plague financial businesses which have yet to adapt to the United States’ ability to enforce US sanctions laws and regulations against conduct which occurs outside the United States.  Short-sighted compliance programs fail to integrate a global perspective on compliance. Standard Chartered was forced to pay fines and penalties for stripping Iranian...

This column may be another example of what I call — “ A profound grasp of the obvious.”  The answer to the question of this column is easy according to everyone – financial performance, quarterly results and shareholder value.    So is that all on the mind of corporate leaders? We all know the problems created by executive compensation schemes and the short-sighted management perspective that...

I am sure Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission lawyers sometimes sit back and marvel at the world they have helped create – Companies are devoting more resources to the due diligence process for screening third parties.  Companies are building due diligence screening procedures and more sophisticated protocols to minimize risk.  The message has come through loud and clear – conduct due diligence and...

I am always surprised at creative links between compliance principles and major historical events and concepts.  Tom Fox, my colleague, is particularly adept at drawing these connections, especially in his recent series describing the link between the Gettysburg battles and specific compliance topics. In his shadow, I would offer another such analogy.  Einstein’s theory of relativity has a direct application to compliance, or at least a...

In response to the Glaxo controversy and the continuing risks of aggressive FCPA enforcement, drug and device companies need to review and enhance their anti-corruption compliance programs.  No hemming and hawing – this is a must for every company involved in these industries.  To ignore the current situation, is to do more than just put a head in the sand – you might as well bury...

As the Glaxo controversy unravels each day, it is important to remember the enforcement context in which the current prosecution in China is occurring.  The Glaxo case will go down in FCPA enforcement history as the equivalent of the Siemens and Wal-Mart case — it represents a new, and risky trend in anti-corruption enforcement: China is now entering the arena with its enforcement muscle.  For...

Mark Twain, one of my favorite authors, always said it best – “Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” For drug and device companies, Mark Twain’s observation is becoming the industry standard.  Since 2009, the drug and device industry has been the proverbial punching bag for FCPA enforcement.  While the overall numbers are less than the major FCPA cases...

Large companies have the resources and the incentive to implement risk management systems.  With the increase in compliance by medium and small-sized companies, chief compliance officers and internal auditors are developing and implementing risk management systems.  I have never been a fan of complicating or confusing compliance and risk management.  After all, risk management naturally belongs in the compliance program functions.  Creating a whole new...