On January 9, 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice (see press release) and the New York County District Attorney's Office ("NYDA") (see press release) announced that Lloyds TSB Bank plc ("Lloyds") agreed to forfeit $350 million and take other actions to resolve its liability for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ("IEEPA") and U.S.
Client Alert | January 20, 2009
2008 – A Dynamic Year in Corporate Deferred Prosecution AgreementsIn the post-Enron and WorldCom era, the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") often uses corporate deferred prosecution agreements ("DPAs") to resolve federal criminal investigations.
Client Alert | January 6, 2009
By any measure, 2008 was a monster year in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") enforcement. With thirty-three enforcement actions between the Department of Justice ("DOJ") and Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), the statute's dual enforcers, 2008 was the second busiest numerical year on the books, trailing only 2007. But beyond the numbers (after all, with the massive Siemens resolution, 2008 dwarfs all other years combined in fines and disgorgement), 2008 saw the FCPA's enforcement regime mature like never before. There were no unimportant FCPA enforcement actions this year. Whether the trend was increasingly aggressive enforcement against individuals, ramped up international coordination, the joining of FCPA prosecutions wi
Client Alert | January 5, 2009
On December 9, 2008, as anticipated, the Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN") issued the Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering Examination Manual for Money Services Businesses (the "Examination Manual" or "the Manual"). This 153-page document sets forth a road map for examinations by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), to which FinCEN has delegated examination authority for Money Services Businesses ("MSBs") and other businesses that do not have a federal regulator but that have been designated as financial institutions under the Bank Secrecy Act and its implementing regulations (collectively, the "BSA"). The Manual is available from the FinCEN website, www.fincen.gov
Client Alert | December 23, 2008
On December 8, 2008, the U.S. Department of the Treasury published in the Federal Register a notice providing guidance on the newly implemented amendment to Section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950.
Client Alert | December 18, 2008
On November 5, 2008, the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") issued guidance, Opening Securities and Futures Accounts from an OFAC Perspective, to make it clear that guidance or actions by its sister Treasury bureau, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN"), under the Bank Secrecy Act ("BSA") do not affect the responsibilities of the securities and futures industry to comply with the economic and trade sanctions administered and enforced by OFAC. This OFAC issuance follows the announcement by FinCEN on October 30, 2008, that FinCEN was withdrawing proposed rulemakings issued in 2002 and 2003 which would have required anti-money laundering ("AML") programs for unregistered investment companies, invest
Client Alert | December 9, 2008
On November 14, 2008, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, issued final regulations governing CFIUS. This follows Treasury's issuance of proposed regulations on April 21, 2008. The period for public comment ended on June 9, 2008.
Client Alert | November 18, 2008
On November 6, 2008, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced that, effective November 10, 2008, the Iranian Transactions Regulations would be amended to revoke authorization for so-called "U-turn" transfers. As a result, U.S.
Client Alert | November 12, 2008
On Friday, July 25, 2008, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Department of Homeland Security proposed significant changes in the rules that it applies to determine the country of origin for a variety of purposes, including the country of origin marking rules that generally require that all imported articles (or their containers) be marked with their country of origin.
Client Alert | July 30, 2008
The United States Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (“DDTC”) recently amended Section 122.3 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) (22 C.F.R.
Client Alert | July 29, 2008
The United States Department of Defense ("DoD") has issued an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement ("DFARS") Parts 204, 235, and 252 to address contractor requirements to comply with export control laws and regulations when performing DoD contracts.
Client Alert | July 25, 2008
The frenetic pace of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") enforcement set in 2007 has carried through the first half of 2008. Mid-year prosecutions are up – substantially so – from last year's record-setting totals. And corporate disclosures and media reports of ongoing investigations evidence that this trend of continually increasing enforcement is here to stay for the near future. This client update provides an overview of the FCPA and other foreign bribery enforcement activities during the first half of 2008, a discussion of the trends we see from that activity, and practical guidance to help companies avoid or limit liability under these laws. A collection of Gibson Dunn's publications on the FCPA, including prior enforcement updates and more in-
Client Alert | July 7, 2008
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls ("DDTC") recently issued guidance to an exporter of defense articles that military photos downloaded from the Internet are not automatically in the public domain as defined by ITAR 120.11.
Client Alert | May 9, 2008
On April 21, 2008, the Department of the Treasury released a set of proposed regulations governing mergers, acquisitions and takeovers by foreign persons.
Client Alert | May 7, 2008
The U.S. Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has published a proposed rule amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”).
Client Alert | May 2, 2008
Victims of state-sponsored terrorism will more readily be able to recover damages from terrorist states as a result of a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which was signed into law today.
Client Alert | January 28, 2008
2007 -- A "Landmark Year" in FCPA Enforcement "2007 is by any measure a landmark year in the fight against foreign bribery." When Mark F. Mendelsohn, Deputy Chief of the Fraud Section in the Department of Justice's Criminal Division ("DOJ") and the government's top criminal Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") enforcer, opened the 2007 ACI FCPA Conference with this bold statement, not a single eyebrow rose across the ballroom filled with members of the ever-growing FCPA Bar.
Client Alert | January 4, 2008
Washington, D.C. Partner Joseph Warin and Associate Andrew Boutros are the authors of "FCPA Investigations: Working Through A Media Crisis" [PDF] published in the December 2007 issue of White Collar Crime.
Client Alert | December 1, 2007
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) recently issued a Concept Release on Mechanisms to Access Disclosures Relating to Business Activities in or with Countries Designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism (the “Concept Release”), available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/concept/2007/33-8860.pdf.The Concept Release seeks public comment by January 22, 2008 regarding various aspects of the Commission’s Congressional mandate to monitor issuers’ disclosures regarding their business activities in or with countries designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism (i.e., Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria) and its proposed methods to facilitate access to such disclosures. Pursuant to a Congressional mandate, the Commission’s Office of Gl
Client Alert | November 27, 2007
Partners F. Joseph Warin and Robert C. Blume and Associate J. Taylor McConkie are the authors of "View from here: Countering corruption" published in the October 25, 2007 issue of Legal Week.
Client Alert | October 25, 2007
The House of Lords, England's highest court, has placed English law firmly on the side of liberal, pro-arbitration construction of arbitration provisions, ending years of technical debate distinguishing English law from that of many commercial centers around the world.
Client Alert | October 19, 2007
The President signed legislation into law today that will dramatically increase the maximum civil penalties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ("IEEPA") from $50,000 to $250,000 per violation, or twice the amount of the transaction, whichever is greater.
Client Alert | October 16, 2007
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) is 30 years old this year, and the anniversary is being “celebrated” with an explosion of enforcement activity by both the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Department of Justice (“DOJ”).
Client Alert | July 26, 2007
Today the President signed legislation increasing the federal government's scrutiny of mergers and corporate takeovers of U.S. businesses by foreign companies.
Client Alert | July 26, 2007
On June 19th, 2007, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) published a final rule (the “China Rule”), effective immediately, that implements significant changes to its dual-use export control regulations for exports to the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”).
Client Alert | July 2, 2007
On May 29, 2007, in response to the continuing conflict in Sudan, the United States imposed new sanctions against Sudan. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), which maintains and enforces U.S.
Client Alert | June 5, 2007
On March 19, 2007, Chiquita Brands International, Inc. pleaded guilty to one count of doing business with a terrorist organization. James Thompson, senior vice president and general counsel for Chiquita, entered the plea on behalf of the company in the U.S.
Client Alert | March 23, 2007
On March 14, 2007, Stuart Levey, the Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Treasury Department, announced the issuance of a final rule under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act that, in 30 days, will bar U.S.
Client Alert | March 15, 2007
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida has charged defendants Victor Vazquez and David Margolis with conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions laws restricting travel to Cuba.
Client Alert | March 5, 2007
This client update provides an overview of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") enforcement activities in 2006, a discussion of the trends we see from that activity, and practical guidance to help companies avoid or limit FCPA liability.FCPA OverviewThe FCPA’s anti-bribery provisions make it illegal to make payments of money or anything of value to any foreign government official or foreign political party in order to obtain or retain business or secure any improper advantage. The anti-bribery provisions apply to "issuers," "domestic concerns," and "any person" that violates the FCPA while in the territory of the United States. The term "issuer" covers any business entity that is registered under 15 U.S.C.
Client Alert | February 7, 2007
On January 25, 2007, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) made certain amendments to Part 594 of Title 31 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations (“GTSR”).
Client Alert | February 2, 2007
Brussels Associate Vassili Moussis is a contributor to the Japan chapter [PDF] of the PLC Cross-Border Competition Handbook 2006-2007, Volume 2: Leniency.
Client Alert | December 1, 2006
On November 17, 2006, President George W. Bush accepted the recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and permitted the $11.8 billion acquisition of U.S.-based Lucent Technologies by the French telecommunications company, Alcatel.
Client Alert | November 28, 2006
L-3 Communications Corporation (L-3), a Delaware company engaged in the business of manufacturing and exporting defense articles and providing defense services, has agreed to pay in fines and remedial compliance measures a civil penalty in the amount of $1.5 million in complete settlement of civil charges for its subsidiary's past, pre-acquisition violations of certain reporting requirements under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
Client Alert | November 10, 2006
On September 30, 2006, the President signed into law the Iran Freedom Support Act ("IFSA"). The law authorizes the President to impose penalties against non-U.S.
Client Alert | October 30, 2006
On September 15, 2006, the United States Senate provided its advice and consent to the ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (“the Convention”).
Client Alert | October 23, 2006
On September 29, 2006, the U.S. Senate confirmed Christopher A. Padilla as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration. In this capacity, he will be the second highest ranking official in the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security.
Client Alert | October 17, 2006
Statoil ASA, an international oil company headquartered in Norway and majority-owned by the Government of Norway, has agreed to pay a total of $21 million to settle criminal and administrative charges for violating the anti-bribery and books-and-records provisions of the U.S.
Client Alert | October 16, 2006
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued updated anti-terrorism guidelines for U.S.-based charities and nonprofit organizations. The U.S. Department of the Treasury Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-based Charities, released September 29, is intended to help charities assess and develop their internal controls and protective measures to avoid involvement in terrorist support networks.
Client Alert | October 12, 2006
Partner Judith Lee and Of Counsel James Slear are authors of "Beware of OFAC" [PDF] published in September 2006 in the International Financial Law Review.Copyright 2006 by the International Financial Law Review.
Client Alert | September 15, 2006
Partner Judith Lee and Of Counsel James Slear are authors of "Special problems concerning the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in the People's Republic of China" [PDF] published in September 2006 in the IBA Legal Practice Division's Litigation Committee Newsletter.
Client Alert | September 13, 2006
Brussels Associate Vassili Moussis is the author of "Japanese leniency process evolves" [PDF] in the August 30, 2006 edition of Global Competition Review.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Reprinted with permission. www.GlobalCompetitionReview.com
Client Alert | September 11, 2006
On July 28, 2006, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) released the 2006 Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering Manual ("BSA/AML Manual").
Client Alert | September 11, 2006
The United States Treasury Department announced today that Bank Saderat Iran will be denied even indirect access to the U.S. financial system, because of its efforts "to transfer money to terrorist organizations, including Hizballah, Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command and Palestinian Islamic Jihad." Bank Saderat is one of the largest Iranian banks, with approximately 3,400 branch offices worldwide. Under the current rules, U.S.
Client Alert | September 8, 2006
The Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") has taken two recent actions related to transactions with countries and entities in the Middle East. On July 20, 2006, OFAC issued a Statement of Licensing Policy that establishes a favorable licensing regime through which U.S.
Client Alert | September 7, 2006
Partner Judith Lee and Of Counsel James Slear are authors of "Doing Business in China - Unique Corruption Compliance Concerns and Strategies" [PDF] published in August 2006 by the Washington Legal Foundation in their Contemporary Legal Note Series, No.
Client Alert | August 30, 2006
Effective August 17, 2006, the United States revoked all licenses and approvals authorizing the export of or other transfers of defense articles or services to Venezuela and will no longer authorize the export of such articles or services to Venezuela.
Client Alert | August 21, 2006
The Department of Defense (DoD) on August 14, 2006, published a proposed rule to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to address requirements for preventing the unauthorized disclosure of export-controlled information and technology under DoD contracts.
Client Alert | August 14, 2006
On Monday, August 7, 2006, the Ninth Circuit reinstated a lawsuit brought by residents of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea (“PNG”) against London-based Rio Tinto PLC (“Rio Tinto”) under the Alien Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C.
Client Alert | August 10, 2006
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is under new leadership. On August 1, 2006, the U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson named Adam Szubin as the new Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control OFAC.
Client Alert | August 3, 2006