The downfall of local politician can cast a shadow of filth across your company. Here in Boston, state Senator Diane Wilkerson was arrested for public corruption. In an editorial in the Boston Globe, the newspaper noted that Wilkerson’s arrest raised suspicions about real estate developments in her district that she aggressively supported: The Grimy Side … Read more »
Category: Bribery and Corruption
Anti-Kickback Act
The Anti-Kickback Act of 1986, 41 U.S.C. § 51 et seq., modernized and closed the loopholes of previous statutes applying to government contractors. The 1986 law attempts to make the anti-kickback statute a more useful prosecutorial tool by expanding the definition of prohibited conduct and by making the statute applicable to a broader range of … Read more »
Gratuities Clause
Section 3.201 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations requires the Gratuities Clause in all federal government contracts: (a) The right of the Contractor to proceed may be terminated by written notice if, after notice and hearing, the agency head or a designee determines that the Contractor, its agent, or another representative— (1) Offered or gave a … Read more »
Bribery of Public Officials
18 U.S.C. § 201 prohibits the bribery of public officials. “Public Officials” means “Member of Congress, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, either before or after such official has qualified, or an officer or employee or person acting for or on behalf of the United States, or any department, agency or branch of Government thereof, including the … Read more »
Text of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
You can find the complet text of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act on the Department of Justice’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act site. § 78dd-2. Prohibited foreign trade practices by domestic concerns (a) Prohibition It shall be unlawful for any domestic concern, other than an issuer which is subject to section 78dd-1 of this title, or … Read more »
Who is a Foreign Official under the FCPA?
The FCPA defines “foreign official” as: [A]ny officer or employee of a foreign government or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any such government or department, agency, or instrumentality, or for or on behalf of any such … Read more »
Kay – Certiorari Denied
The U.S. Supreme Court will not be reviewing the Fifth Circuit’s decision in Kay v. U.S. (cert denied shows up page 8 of the Orders List from October 6, 2008.) Kay argued that the FCPA didn’t apply to bribes to reduce taxes, or that if it applied, the “obtaining or retaining” language in the law … Read more »
Walking The Fine Line Of Compliance In China
Jeffrey M. Rawitz and Erica L. Reilley of Jones Day published an article in Mondaq: China: The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Walking The Fine Line Of Compliance In China. Four Suggestions for Avoiding FCPA Complications in China Any company seeking to avoid potential FCPA problems in China, or elsewhere, should start by developing a rigorous … Read more »
Shearman & Sterling’s FCPA Digest
Danforth Newcomb of Shearman & Sterling LLP put together a digest of FCPA cases and review releases (.pdf) relating to bribes of foreign officials under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (through February 13, 2008). Read more »
Product Samples and The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Richard L. Cassin of The FCPA Blog highlights Review Procedure Release No. 81-02 from December 11, 1981: A Rare (Or Medium-Rare) Opportunity. The release helps give a roadmap on how to introduce new products to potential government customers in foreign countries without violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In Release 81-02 (December 11, 1981), the … Read more »