Assisting Companies With Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Compliance Issues
The unfortunate reality that many businesses face when dealing with international trade is that many countries view corruption at all levels as normal. But even a small “processing fee” or “personal incentive” can put a corporation in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The consequences of a violation can be thousands of dollars in fines, insurmountable hurdles to future trade and even the viability of a business.
At Hickey & Chung, LLP, our San Francisco-based lawyers work regularly with businesses across California. We have over 25 years of legal experience that we leverage to ensure your international business operations run smoothly, and, if there are compliance issues, we can intercede on your behalf. Contact us at 415-484-4547 and schedule an appointment today.
Preventing Compliance Issues
The best tactic for combating accusations of FCPA violations is to ensure they never happen. This begins with strong corporate policies, conducting thorough training on what constitutes a bribe, how employees can report bribery issues and other relevant matters.
Bribery is a widespread practice internationally, particularly in developing countries. This is an enormous problem for businesses and individuals. Some issues that our firm is prepared to address include:
- Developing and reviewing corporate policies to ensure compliance with FCPA
- Ensuring federal investigators respect your business’s integrity and rights during searches
- Protecting your business’s privacy rights, including trade secrets, patents and intellectual property rights
- Coordinating defense efforts among corporate and individual lawyers
These cases are notoriously complicated. Not only can both an individual and the corporation face legal consequences, but those consequences can be both criminal and civil. In addition, it is very common for multiple government agencies, such as the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other organizations, to investigate simultaneously.
Experience And Tenacity In Difficult Situations
Our attorneys work together to create legal strategies that are fast acting, adaptable and highly effective. If you are concerned about a pending FCPA investigation or are looking to increase compliance before these issues arise, reach out and talk to our team today.