Transparency International’s just-published annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) reveals the world’s most corrupt countries in 2018. Introduced in 1995, the CPI currently ranks 180 countries and territories worldwide by their perceived levels of public sector corruption with the support... Read More

February is Time Management month. It’s only fitting, when you think about it. After setting those lofty resolutions for 2019 in January, wrangling control of your time is a crucial component of achieving your personal AND professional goals. One of the biggest potential time-savers for risk management... Read More

The World Economic Forum (WEF) brings together leaders of government and business in the Alpine town of Davos in Switzerland this week. They are discussing the latest trends in business and society. The participant list is revealing—this year, some of the world’s biggest companies have sent... Read More

Despite recent Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement actions, there are signs of more positive engagement with governance and compliance in Latin America. Emerging markets offer attractive opportunities for investors, but businesses aiming to capitalize will need to prioritize robust due diligence... Read More

From AI to blockchain, companies are rapidly adopting new technologies which use data to drive business insights and manage risks more effectively . Our third volume of The Trust Issue explores how technology can also improve a company’s transparency and increase the trust it receives from customers... Read More

If serious trivia seems like a contradiction, maybe you need to be more quizzical when it comes to anti-corruption compliance. January 4 is the one day of the year when there’s an excuse to be trivial—even in an area as serious as compliance in anti-bribery and corruption , anti-money laundering... Read More

2018 has been a record year of penalties issued for breaches of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Settlements totaling more than $2.96 billion were agreed by corporations found to be in breach of the Act. The year saw further indications of the FCPA’s global reach, witnessed the first judgments... Read More

Migration is a recurrent theme in human history. Whether seeking to escape violence, natural disasters or poverty, migrants express their determination for better lives through migration. On International Migrants Day, we look at a particular risk that migrants face—forced labor. The issue is more... Read More

Many organizations use Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) standards or engage in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs to support sustainable business practices and mitigate third-party risk . But what about on the home-front? ‘Tis the season of celebration, but the glittery... Read More

Forget about the turtles. Today is International Ninja Day, but what we’re on about has more to do with regulatory risk than teenagers or (as far as we know) mutants. Why does International Ninja Day make us think ‘compliance program’? International Ninja Day was the brainchild of... Read More

Several months ago, we highlighted news that Kroger was phasing out plastic grocery bags as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment . The national grocery chain is not alone. When it comes to addressing food supply chain risk, corporate social responsibility programs are helping... Read More

Without question, companies’ global supply chains and third-party networks increase their risk exposure. Yet, according to a recently-released benchmark report , approximately one-third of organizations lack a cohesive risk mitigation process —relying instead on a manual process or traditional... Read More

It was a clash of old and new. In the lobby of Brussels’ Plaza Hotel were ornate chandeliers, royal portraits and a marble staircase. In the adjacent conference room, compliance officers from across Europe were discussing how the latest trends in technology can help them meet the growing risks... Read More

A few years ago, we highlighted bribery and corruption vulnerabilities in the Energy sector, noting that “Companies linked to energy industries, in particular, face elevated risks in order to reap the equally high rewards.” But more recent events highlight the need for companies in this sector... Read More

Twenty-five years ago, the United Nations General Assembly declared October 17th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty . In marking the anniversary, the UN has stated that … “all people must come together to end poverty and discrimination in order to build a sustainable future... Read More

Three quarters of the world’s biggest exporting countries are failing to punish corporations that pay bribes overseas, according to a new report from the NGO Transparency International. The report shows that there are vast differences in the level of risk of bribery and corruption in different... Read More

Petrobras has reached a $1.78 billion settlement with the DOJ and SEC over bribes to politicians and political parties in Brazil. This is the first time an enforcement action over FCPA violations has exceeded a billion dollars. The amount is bigger than the nearest two settlements combined, and the case... Read More

French bank Société Générale expects to pay penalties of nearly $1.3 billion to settle allegations of breaching U.S.sanctions. It made dollar transfers on behalf of entities based in countries which were subject to U.S.sanctions. The fine is just the latest evidence of the... Read More

The U.S. Corporate Enforcement Policy, which incentivises companies to self-disclose bribery and corruption when they come across it, now applies to U.S. companies which are merging with or acquiring foreign companies. That’s according to a recent speech by a senior official at the Department of... Read More

Five trillion plastic bags. That’s the number of single-use (double, if you have a dog) bags used worldwide every year. To put that into perspective, the bags spread out side-by-side would cover an area twice the size of France says a U.N. report released on World Environment Day in June. And you... Read More

The global compliance landscape is becoming ever more complex, and some of the most significant recent developments in ABC and AML legislation have happened in the UK. All companies who operate in the UK need to be aware of these laws, as well as growing consumer expectations of ethical behavior, if... Read More

No industry is impervious to bribery and corruption risk, but companies linked to energy industries, in particular, face elevated risks in order to reap the equally-high rewards. It’s a topic we’ve touched on in blog posts on Unaoil and Petrobras . But anti-bribery and corruption regulations... Read More

Danske Bank and Siemens have appointed chief compliance officers to their boards of directors this summer. We explore why compliance has become accepted as a critical function in any company. At the next board meeting of Denmark’s biggest bank, a chief compliance officer will be at... Read More

Just three years ago, Teva Pharmaceuticals, a drug-maker in Israel, disclosed to both the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice that an on-going internal probe had revealed possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and/or local laws. Ultimately... Read More

The makers of Jim Beam whisky have paid $8 million to settle allegations of bribing government officials to enter the Indian market. The settlement is a timely reminder of the continued threat of FCPA enforcement action , and the particular risks posed by third parties in the food and drink industry... Read More