Tagged: DOJ

Episode 376 — DOJ’s Unicat Settlement and the Future Look of Trade Enforcement

What happens when a company inherits a sanctions violation through acquisition, and acts fast to fix it? Can a robust post-acquisition response really save a parent company from prosecution? In this episode, Michael Volkov unpacks the fascinating DOJ-led global enforcement action against UNICAT Catalyst Technologies – a case that reflects the U.S. government’s intensifying focus on trade enforcement across sanctions, export controls, and customs. This...

DOJ’s Coordinated Resolution with Unicat Resolves OFAC, BIS and CBP Violations (Part II of III)

DOJ’s Unicat resolution is a perfect example of the new trade enforcement reality under the Trump Administration.  DOJ spearheaded a global resolution of sanctions, customs and export controls violations, while declining to prosecute the parent company that voluntarily disclosed the violations quickly after acquiring Catalyst. As detailed in court documents and in DOJ’s agreements with White Deer and Unicat, from approximately 2014 through 2021, Mani...

Unicat Settles with DOJ and Resolves Sanctions, Export Controls and Customs Violations Applying Voluntary Disclosure Policy in M&A Context (Part I of III)

In an interesting enforcement action reflecting the Administration’s priority on sanctions, export and customs enforcement, DOJ announced a global resolution with DOJ, OFAC, BIS and CBP and Unicat Catalyst Technologies (“Unicat”), under which Unicat agreed to pay forfeiture totaling $3,325,052.10, representing the proceeds of its violations of U.S. sanctions, export control and customs laws. In parallel resolutions coordinated between the Justice Department, the OFAC and...

Episode 374 — DOJ Resumes FCPA Enforcement

Episode 374 — DOJ Resumes FCPA Enforcement

The Justice Department has returned to the FCPA enforcement arena — in a significant development, DOJ announced the resumption of FCPA enforcement, with a new set of enforcement guidance principles.  The new guidance is an important statement governing FCPA investigations and prosecutions. The impact of this new approach will be significant — the precise scope of this renewed focus will depend on certain legal factors,...

DSP Compliance: DOJ Sets July 8, 2025 Deadline (Part III of III)

DSP Compliance: DOJ Sets July 8, 2025 Deadline (Part III of III)

As if legal and compliance professionals had enough responsibilities on their plates, DOJ dropped another shoe (to join the tariffs, sanctions and export controls, and immigration issues) and upped the stakes for ethics and compliance programs. DOJ dropped a comprehensive set of new regulations governing data security and gave companies a 90-day head start — once we get to July 8, 2025, DOJ warned that...

Practical Issues and the New DSP (Part II of III)

Practical Issues and the New DSP (Part II of III)

Like any new regulatory and enforcement scheme, companies face a number of new  risks that require understanding.  The DSP framework is new, comprehensive and raises significant risks and requires careful design and implementation of effective compliance strategies.  Companies will face different risk levels based on their handling of data, specific market practices and security measures. In this post, I will explore some of the interesting...

Episode 365 — Four Sanctions Cases Everyone Should Know

Episode 365 — Four Sanctions Cases Everyone Should Know

How prepared is your organization to handle the evolving landscape of sanctions compliance? In this episode of Corruption, Crime and Compliance, Michael Volkov dives into critical sanctions compliance cases and their implications for global companies. He discusses four significant cases that underscore the necessity of robust compliance programs, particularly in light of increased DOJ enforcement actions. Through these examples, he breaks down the consequences of...

DOJ Issues Data Security Program Requirements (Part I of III)

Many “good government” initiatives continue to be enacted or implemented on Capitol Hill or in the Executive Branch — notwithstanding changes in political control.  While working on Capitol Hill, the bulk of the legislative and oversight work was bipartisan in that both parties were committed to sensible initiatives needed to be keeping the government operational and effective.  Of course, there were partisan issues but at...

Episode 361:  The Boeing Plea Agreement

Episode 361: The Boeing Plea Agreement

This week we are pleased to bring you one of our most popular episodes of 2024. Please enjoy, and we will be back next week with more insights from the Corruption, Crime, and Compliance podcast. Have you heard of the recent controversies around Boeing 737 MAX and its safety? Have you wondered what is being done about the concerns around it? In this episode of...

Updating Your Risk Profile to Respond to the New Trump Administration

Updating Your Risk Profile to Respond to the New Trump Administration

We live in a topsy-turvy world.  This is an exaggeration but sets up my points in this blog post. We are now seeing the shuffling of corporate risks and every board, C-Suite and legal, compliance and risk management team has to take a hard look at your company’s risks and reassess and re-rank them. Initial Review Some basic business and technology risks will stay the...