U.S. FCPA Guidance Expected Soon

FCPA DOJ

The DOJ is expected to release soon guidance on compliance with the FCPA, which originally was promised in November 2011 by Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division Lanny Breuer. Recent FCPA settlements obtained by the DOJ set the stage for the guidance and provide companies with insight as to what the guidance likely will include. For example, as part of its recent $60 million FCPA settlement, Pfizer agreed to a detailed series of FCPA-specific compliance undertakings, augmenting the more general rendition of program elements. The Pfizer deferred prosecution agreement (i) details the structure of the company’s compliance program staffing and oversight, (ii) mandates the maintenance and content of certain anti-corruption policies and procedures, (iii) provides mechanisms and resources for internal compliance reporting, (iv) requires annual company-wide, corruption-related risk assessments and five market-specific proactive compliance reviews annually, (v) requires thorough corruption-risk diligence prior to acquisitions, (vi) describes a program of third-party diligence and control, and (vii) directs a program of biennial training for specific personnel and directors, and a three-year training rotation for certain third parties. The BuckleySandler FCPA Team has prepared a Client Update and a checklist of the entire list of “Enhanced Compliance Obligations”, allowing compliance counsel to conduct a quick cross-check of their company’s existing compliance program elements.