Int'l Anti-Corruption

Catalog description

This course will cover the basics of international anti-corruption laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act, international conventions against corruption, and similar anti-bribery laws of other countries.  These anti-corruption laws generally prohibit direct and indirect corrupt payments to foreign officials.  Enforcement has increased significantly in the last few years and will continue to be a major factor to any organization operating globally.  The course will use recent SEC and DOJ investigations (such as the case against former U.S. congressman from New Orleans, William Jefferson) to illustrate the basics of these anti-corruption laws. The course will also cover other areas in the international trade regulatory regime such as export controls, anti-boycott, anti-money laundering, and fraud prevention. Other areas addressed by the course include the scope of international anti-corruption laws, identifying a government official, identifying red flags in business partners, conducting due diligence, exceptions to the laws, assessing third party risk, and other areas that play an integral role in counseling clients doing business abroad. We will review the elements of a comprehensive corporate compliance program and mechanisms used to implement compliance procedures and internal controls in an organization. The course will also address the cultural challenges presented by certain countries and industries. Students will be expected to participate in case studies and exercises designed to apply legal principals to situations that arise in the practice of law.