For emerging markets around the globe, 2019 was a microcosm of the decade that preceded it: high-profile corruption scandals, grass-roots anti-graft movements, record-breaking enforcement actions, and historic legislative changes. Headline-grabbing scandals in Latin America, for example, sparked mass protests and toppled political leaders. Fundamental reforms to anti-graft laws and agencies in China resulted in enforcement actions against companies amidst an escalating trade war with the United States. In India, a simmering public broadly believes that aggressive anti-graft initiatives have yet to meet expectations. This past year, multinational enforcement actions stemming from conduct in Africa resulted in eye-popping monetary settlements. In Russia, police used mass arrests in an attempt to quell civil unrest sparked by corruption at the highest levels of the government.

Join our team of experienced international anti-corruption attorneys to learn more about how to do business in Russia, Latin America, China, India and Africa without running afoul of anti-corruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA").

Topics to be discussed:

  • An overview of FCPA enforcement statistics and trends for 2019;
  • The corruption landscape in key emerging markets, including recent headlines and scandals;
  • Lessons learned from local anti-corruption enforcement in Latin America, China, India, Africa, and Russia;
  • Key anti-corruption legislative changes in Latin America, China, India, Africa, and Russia; and
  • Mitigation strategies for businesses operating in high-risk markets.

View Slides (PDF)
Listen to Audio (MP3) – Audio file is available for download and replay at your convenience, without MCLE credit.

To read the latest about the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, please visit our 2019 Year-End FCPA Update,

PANELISTS:

Kelly Austin Partner-in-Charge of Gibson Dunn's Hong Kong office and a member of the firm's Executive Committee. Ms. Austin's practice focuses on government investigations, regulatory compliance and international disputes. She has extensive experience in government and corporate internal investigations, including those involving the FCPA, anti-money laundering, securities, and trade control laws. Ms. Austin also regularly guides companies on creating and implementing effective compliance programs.

Joel Cohen Trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor, Mr. Cohen is a partner in Gibson Dunn's New York office, Co-Chair of the firm's White Collar Defense and Investigations Group, and a member of its Securities Litigation, Class Actions and Antitrust & Competition Practice Groups. He has been lead or co-lead counsel in 24 civil and criminal trials in federal and state courts, and he is equally comfortable in leading confidential investigations, managing crises or advocating in court proceedings. Mr. Cohen's experience includes all aspects of FCPA/anticorruption issues, in addition to financial institution litigation and other international disputes and discovery.

Benno Schwarz German-qualified partner in Gibson Dunn's Munich office and a member of the firm's International Corporate Transactions and White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Groups. Mr. Schwarz has many years of experience in the area of corporate anti-bribery compliance, especially issues surrounding the enforcement of the US FCPA and the UK Bribery Act as well as Russian law.

Patrick Stokes Litigation partner in Gibson Dunn's Washington, D.C. office and member of the firm's White Collar Defense and Investigations, Securities Enforcement and Litigation Practice Groups. Mr. Stokes is a former head of DOJ's FCPA Unit, where he managed DOJ's enforcement program and all criminal FCPA matters. His practice includes internal corporate investigations, government investigations, compliance reviews, enforcement actions regarding corruption, securities fraud, and financial institutions fraud.

F. Joseph Warin Partner in Gibson Dunn's Washington, D.C. office, Chair of the office's Litigation Department, and Co-Chair of the firm's White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Group. Mr. Warin is regarded as a top lawyer in FCPA investigations, FCA cases, and special committee representations. He has handled cases and investigations in more than 40 states and dozens of countries in matters involving federal regulatory inquiries, criminal investigations and cross-border inquiries by dozens of international enforcers, including the UK's SFO and FCA, and government regulators in Germany, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and the Middle East.

Oliver Welch Associate in Gibson Dunn's Hong Kong office and a member of the firm's White Collar Defense and Investigations and Litigation Practices. Mr. Welch has extensive experience representing clients throughout the Asia region on a wide variety of compliance and anti-corruption issues, including FCPA matters. He counsels multi-national corporations on global anti-corruption compliance programs and controls, and assists in drafting anti-corruption compliance policies, procedures, and training materials.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.