Herbert Smith Freehills has published the first global edition of its Anti-Corruption Report, reviewing a year in which corruption investigations have never been far from the headlines.
The report touches on perceptions, trends and investigations in close to 100 countries, and also summarises the key long-arm statutes, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act, and how they have been deployed in the past year against companies and individuals across the globe.
"This is our most extensive review of corruption investigations to date, and identifies three clear trends," said Kyle Wombolt, Global Head of Corporate Crime and Investigations at Herbert Smith Freehills.
"First, we have seen a proliferation of domestic investigations and prosecutions concerning political corruption. Numerous senior figures have been indicted for corruption in 2015, indicating a new appetite to pursue corruption at the very highest levels."
The second trend to emerge from the report is the enhanced vulnerability of corporates. "Local and international investigators are gladly tackling larger and more complex cases, often resulting from companies seeking opportunities in new and unfamiliar markets," said Kyle.
"Lastly, we are seeing increased co-operation between regulators and investigators. Practically this means that those under investigation must prepare for the demands of investigations in multiple countries and coordinate their responses effectively."
The report also analyses recent enforcement trends and previews upcoming anti-corruption reform. "Forewarned is forearmed - we hope this report allows clients to understand the risks faced in each country and allows them to prepare effectively," said Kyle.
Copies of the report are available from the contacts below.
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Sally Greig
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Hong Kong