The FCPA Blog

Editors

Harry Cassin
Publisher and Editor

Andy Spalding
Senior Editor

Jessica Tillipman
Senior Editor

Bill Steinman
Senior Editor

Richard L. Cassin
Editor at Large

Elizabeth K. Spahn
Editor Emeritus

Cody Worthington
Contributing Editor

Julie DiMauro
Contributing Editor

Thomas Fox
Contributing Editor

Marc Alain Bohn
Contributing Editor

Bill Waite
Contributing Editor

Shruti J. Shah
Contributing Editor

Russell A. Stamets
Contributing Editor

Richard Bistrong
Contributing Editor

Eric Carlson
Contributing Editor

Panalpina’s Practices Fall Under the FCPA Spotlight

Richard L. Cassin August 16, 2007

February 6, 2007 — The DOJ reports Vetco’s admission that payments to Nigerian Customs Officials violated the FCPA. The DOJ says, “These corrupt payments were paid through a major international freight forwarding and customs clearance company to employees of the Nigerian Customs Service, and coordinated largely through Vetco Gray Controls Inc.’s… Continue Reading

A Few Words About US . . .

Richard L. Cassin August 15, 2007

Keeping Tabs on the FCPA

SINGAPORE–LAWFUEL – The Law Newswire – August 14, 2007 – Lawyers, business people, academics and others have a new way to follow developments in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.… Continue Reading

Hospitality, FCPA Style

Richard L. Cassin August 15, 2007

The FCPA’s promotional expenses affirmative defense is used as a basis to pay for overseas trips by foreign officials. It allows payment or reimbursement of expenses that are directly related to “the promotion, demonstration, or explanation of products or services.”… Continue Reading

The Facilitating Payments Exception is a Narrow Gate

Richard L. Cassin August 13, 2007

There are strict requirements for Facilitating Payments — the one exception written into the FCPA. Among other things, the payment must be for “routine governmental action . . . which is ordinarily and commonly performed by a foreign official.”… Continue Reading

Does ABB Have an Effective Compliance Program?

Richard L. Cassin August 12, 2007

Zurich, Switzerland-based engineering giant ABB Ltd’s Q2 earnings release contained the following item:

On July 13, 2007, ABB disclosed to the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission suspect payments made by employees of company subsidiaries in Asia, South America and Europe, in particular Italy.

Question: Why Do Bribes to Reduce Foreign Taxes Violate the FCPA?

Richard L. Cassin August 10, 2007

The answer, from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, is this:

[T]he concern of Congress with the immorality, inefficiency, and unethical character of bribery presumably does not vanish simply because the tainted payments are intended to secure a favorable decision less significant than winning a contract bid.