The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA"): Why Compliance Matters

Sharie A. Brown, partner and chair of the White Collar Defense & Corporate Compliance Practice gave an interactive webinar on the FCPA titled “The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA"): Why Compliance Matters” sponsored by Andrews Publications, a Thomson West Business on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at noon EST.

Drawing on her experience as a former federal prosecutor, a former ethics and compliance officer for a Fortune 10 company, and longtime FCPA practitioner, Ms. Brown addressed the following questions: 

• What is an FCPA antibribery violation and who is covered by the FCPA?
• How can business entertainment, plant tours, gifts and meals for foreign officials trigger an FCPA violation?
• What is a permissible “facilitating payment” to a foreign official, and what are the affirmative defenses to an FCPA violation?
• When does a company violate the “books and records” provisions of the FCPA, and how do you know if your company’s system of internal controls is adequate enough to withstand an FCPA enforcement inquiry?
• What are the FCPA “red flags”, and why do so many FCPA cases involve overseas agents and consultants?
• What is your company’s best protection against and FCPA violation?