In Africa Sting Case,Avon,Halliburton,Olympus,SEC,Stroz Friedberg,TWIFCPAVideocast on August 3, 2012 by Howard@OpenAir Tagged: Africa Sting, Avon, Bistrong, Citi, FCPA, Friedberg, Olympus, SEC, Sensata, Stoker, Stroz, Total SA, WW Grainger
A busy FCPA week: investigations starting, investigations ending, CEOs asked to come in for interviews, Stroz Friedberg picks up another one, and a rant about CDOs, the financial crisis, and dumb money.
Show notes:
02:47: Investigation of Sensata closes, no charges brought; raises the question of “what’s a declination, exactly?” And how you need M&A diligence.
14:00: WW Grainger publicly announces that they don’t know how to do an internal investigation. That is, they announced that their investigation didn’t find anything. What should you do with gift cards? And why a compliance culture is good for the business.
22:31: Halliburton opens an investigation
26:12: Olympus open an investigation. Into reimbursements to doctors in Brazil. Really? You’re gonna disclose that?
28:04: The importance of integrating companies you buy
33:05: Total SA. Howard goes on a rant, and evidently isn’t a fan of anything French.
40:15: Still on Total SA, but talking about how the investigation is REALLY old, and as someone told me, cases—unlike wine—don’t get better with age. Plus, the blocking statue; plus, the whistleblower laws.
43:03: Avon’s CEO gets called in, and Avon has spent a ton of money. Seriously, if you weighed it, it would weigh a ton.
49:25: Bistrong gets 18 months. Howard feels conflicted.
54:21: Stroz Friedberg shoots…they score! Again. First Scott Peeler, now David Glockner.
56:47: SEC loses Stoker trial. Howard tries to explain what a CDO is (and fails miserably).
In Africa Sting Case,Declinations,News Corp.,Self-disclosure on July 30, 2012 by Howard@OpenAir Tagged: 1st amendment, Africa Sting, Alexandra Wrage, Bistrong, Ceresny, Debevoise, declination, FCPA, foreign law, free press, Germany, Mary Joe White, News Corp., Paul Berger, Qualcomm, Schlumberger, Stryker, TRACE, UK Bribery Act, UKBA, Vitou, Yannett
A shorter episode this week, in episode #47 Tom and I talk about the virtues of a free press, checkbook journalism, the effect of foreign law on US regulatory decisions, how to choose FCPA outside counsel, and more!
02:15: No enforcement actions this week, no new investigations
02:47: News Corp., phone hacking, the Leveson Committee, and we’re shocked, shocked, to find that there’s gambling going on in this establishment (wait, you mean that reporters pay for access?!). The intersection between the FCPA and a free press.
09:04: New law firm FCPA updates
10:36: if Germany says someone isn’t a government official, does that bind (or even influence) the DOJ?
15:25: law firm FCPA updates are too long, I argue
18:00: How to choose outside counsel for FCPA matters (Howard’s version)
26:37: Howard’s book comes out (okay, it’s Alexandra Wrage’s book; I just wrote a chapter).
27:43: New corporate disclosures (Qualcomm, Stryker, Schlumberger) show LONG investigations
32:11: Bistrong gets a recommendation of probation
34:17: The problem with sting cases
35:27: What’s a declination?
This Week in FCPA 