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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

Russell A. Stamets
Contributing Editor

Richard Bistrong
Contributing Editor

Eric Carlson
Contributing Editor

Another Look At Facilitating Payments

As the lone exception written into the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, facilitating payments have a reputation for being safe and practical. In truth, grease payments are often dangerous and potentially damaging.… Continue Reading

Six Years On

Instead of our regular post today, these familiar and fitting words:

No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.… Continue Reading

From Our Sponsor

The FCPA Blog is produced and edited by attorneys of Cassin Law LLC. The firm helps clients comply with United States laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

The information in The FCPA Blog is intended for public discussion and educational purposes only.… Continue Reading

The Requestor’s French Dilemma

Facing a decision to either stay in a joint venture or leave, when staying means violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and leaving means breaching contractual obligations, is a legal disaster.… Continue Reading

Siemens’ Global Corruption Problems Will Worsen

Perhaps the biggest, although not yet the loudest, international corruption story involves Siemens AG, the German electronics and electrical engineering giant. Siemens says it has identified “a multitude of payments made in connection with [consulting agreements] for which we have not yet been able either to establish a valid business purpose or to clearly identify the recipient.… Continue Reading

Enron’s Culture Of Non-Compliance

One consistent measure of a compliance culture is executive responsibility. In the case of Enron’s CEO, Jeffrey Skilling, there was little evidence of that. True, he was obligated to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.Continue Reading

Materiality, But Not By The Numbers

Strictly speaking, “materiality” should never be part of an FCPA discussion. A payment or promise to pay anything of value can violate the antibribery provisions, and the books and records provisions apply to any book, record or account.… Continue Reading

Dear Readers,

The FCPA Blog is grateful for your many expressions of support and encouragement. Your comments and suggestions are an important ingredient, so please let us hear from you, either in the comments section after a post or by email Here.… Continue Reading

An Exodus From Nigeria?

A Reuters report from August 26, 2007 quotes Noble Corporation as saying it has been unable to obtain or renew permits for five of its seven drilling rigs operating in Nigeria due to the FCPA investigation of operations there.… Continue Reading

The Long, Strong Arm of the FCPA

Its jurisdictional reach is legendary, but understanding exactly why the FCPA’s coverage stretches so far and wide is not always easy. One explanation comes from the United States Attorneys’ Manual, in this clear and sometimes ominous exposition:

Under the FCPA, U.S.

Continue Reading

Textron’s FCPA Violations Caused by Fifth Tier French Subsidiaries

Textron Inc., without admitting or denying books and records and internal controls allegations, consented to the entry of a final judgment with the SEC permanently enjoining it from future violations of Sections 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, ordering it to disgorge $2,284,579 in profits, plus $450,461.68 in pre-judgment interest, and to pay a civil penalty of $800,000.… Continue Reading

There Are Moral Problems . . .

“There are moral problems as well as legal problems that go far beyond simply the question of illegal payoffs to foreign officials.

“There are questions concerning the role of multi­national corporations, the extent to which they have obligations to the countries in which they conduct their business, the extent to which they should seek to raise the standards of conduct there, the respect which they should show the laws of other countries.… Continue Reading