Anti-Corruption 

Vietnam: Important Changes under the New Penal Code

On 27 November 2015, the National Assembly adopted the new Penal Code (the “New Penal Code”). The New Penal Code will take effect on 1 July 2016 and repeal the current Penal Code, which was issued in 1999 and amended in 2009 (the “Current Penal Code“).

Pharmaceutical Industry Under U.S. Anti-Corruption Regulatory Spotlight

At the annual “SEC Speaks” conference on February 19, 2016 in Washington, DC, the head of the SEC’s FCPA Unit, Kara Brockmeyer, warned pharmaceutical companies that their industry will be under renewed scrutiny in 2016.  She said the SEC “is going back to the pharma industry after a break for a period of years.”  Brockmeyer also highlighted increased international cooperation that will make government enforcement easier going forward.

Cooperation between Laos and South Korea to combat money laundering and terrorism-financing

On 16 December 2015, the Anti-Money Laundering Intelligence Unit (“AMLIU”) under the Bank of the Lao PDR and the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (“KOFIU”) signed a memorandum of understanding with regards to anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism (“AML/CFT”).

Casting a Wider Net: Conspiracy Charges In Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Cases

Prosecutors in the U.S. have a longstanding practice of utilizing conspiracy charges to expand the scope and jurisdictional reach of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), particularly with respect to its anti-bribery provisions. While aspects of this practice have been subject to recent court scrutiny, this article discusses how conspiracy charges continue to assist the government in overcoming the myriad legal obstacles to establishing a substantive FCPA violation.

Fraud chief calls for tougher corporate prosecution laws

David Green said legal reforms inspired by the American system of “vicarious liability” would make it easier to hold banks and other large corporations criminally responsible for wrongdoing carried out by their staff.

WADA: IAAF knew of Russian doping scandal, corruption

A report by the World Anti-Doping Agency’s independent commission uncovered staggering levels of corruption within the International Association of Athletics Federation, track and field’s world governing body.

What Were The Least (And Most) Corrupt Countries In 2015?

What Were The Least (And Most) Corrupt Countries In 2015?

No country is free of public corruption, a scourge that has wide-ranging effects on the lives of billions of people. But in 2015, more countries saw drops in corruption than those that saw gains, according to the new Corruption Perceptions Index.

Preventing FCPA Violations by your International Consultants, Representatives and Distributors

US companies and others subject to jurisdiction under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) can be held vicariously liable for an FCPA violation committed on their behalf or at their direction by third parties. In fact, most enforcement actions brought by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the FCPA involve third parties.

China Improves by 17 Places in Transparency International’s 2015 Corruption Perception Index

On 27 January 2016, Transparency International launched its latest 2015 Corruption Perception Index (“CPI”). China’s ranking significantly improved from last year, moving up seventeen places from 100 to a rank of 83. This suggests that the Chinese government’s anti-corruption campaign may be taking effect and resulting in a more positive perception of the level of public sector corruption in China.

Transparency International Launches the Latest Corruption Perceptions Index 2014 – China Loses Ground

On 3 December 2014, Transparency International (“TI”) launched its latest Corruption Perceptions Index (“CPI”) 2014. The CPI ranks countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be. In this latest CPI, 175 countries are included.