DC Seminar Looks At The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

On Thursday and Friday, October 21 and 22, the American Bar Association will host the Third Annual National Institute on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The program will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, 1150 22nd Street, NW in Washington, DC. On Thursdaythe program will run from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., and on Friday the sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. and the meeting will adjourn at 12:30 p.m.

Enforcement of anti-corruption laws in the United States and abroad is at an all-time high. The program will provide a timely and substantive briefing on developments in this area of critical importance to companies, their officers and employees.

FCPA investigators and enforcement proceedings brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission continue to increase in number and severity for both U.S. and foreign persons. More resources are at the government's disposal, new investigative techniques are being utilized, and significant incentives to report alleged misconduct to the government are now available as a result of recently enacted financial legislation awarding a bounty to whistleblowers. Individuals are prosecuted far more frequently than in prior years, and corporate executives are becoming an increasing focus of the government's enforcement strategy. The advent of transnational bribery legislation in more and more countries and increased multinational cooperation has significantly increased the liability associated with business abroad. As a result, effective compliance programs, regular risk assessments, and careful due diligence have become vital to protect against violations.

The program will feature experienced government, corporate, and private practitioners who deal with issues raised by the FCPA.

The keynote speaker is Denis J. McInerney, chief, fraud section, criminal division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Other speakers include Cheryl J. Scarboro, chief, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Unit, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; Richard Alderman, director, Serious Fraud Office, London; and Douglas M. Lankler, senior vice president and chief compliance officer of Pfizer Inc.

For information about available CLE credits and fees, visit CLE Events on The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel website at www.metrocorpcounsel.com.

To register for the program, visit www.abacle.org/programs/fcpa.