Compliance

The SEC has long relied on whistleblowers to enforce securities law, often making it worth their while to the tune of as much as 30% of a monetary sanction. Attorney Katherine Krems shares her insights on how Activision’s recent SEC settlement provides a lesson in what not to do. On Feb. 3, the SEC announced a $35 million settlement with...

A C-suite title on your business card doesn’t just come with a cushy corner office. Since January’s blockbuster Delaware Chancery Court decision regarding toxic behavior at McDonald’s, it could also mean that you’ll bear the same oversight duty traditionally reserved for members of the board of directors. Bart M. Schwartz of Guidepost Solutions is currently the federally appointed monitor over...

Facing a potential recession and anti-ESG headwinds may have smaller financial institutions thinking about budget cuts aimed at sustainability efforts. FTI Consulting’s Evelyn Basham and Enrique Ubarri explore what small and mid-sized banks and other financial institutions need to know about ESG in 2023 and beyond. Financial institutions of all sizes are in the midst of an ESG revolution despite...

Despite the proliferation of laws aimed at fighting bribery and corruption, a recent international report found that most countries are failing to stop corruption. How can organizations ensure they’re doing their part? Certa’s Jag Lamba offers nine signs that your company’s ABAC program is on the right track. Anti-bribery and anti-corruption (ABAC) laws and standards govern business transactions and prohibit...

There's no shortage of measures designed to safeguard human rights across the globe, but Washington, London and Brussels have yet to fully see eye-to-eye on what entities to target. Vincent Gaudel from LexisNexis Risk Solutions sets the stage for what to expect in the evolution of thematic human rights sanctions. Combating human rights violations and corruption is a common goal...

Manufacturers are pressed from all sides to prove their environmental bona fides, but given the nature of manufacturing-related emissions, that means making sure their global supply chains are environmentally conscious. Assent’s Sarah Carpenter digs into her company’s recent survey of manufacturers, the pressures these companies are facing and what they can do about it. ESG-related investment is soaring, business is...

A proposal by the FTC to ban noncompete agreements in employment has been widely criticized by business groups, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce threatening a lawsuit if it goes into effect. But, as Seyfarth Shaw’s Robert Milligan discusses, the potential noncompete ban is just the latest in the agency’s self-described crackdown over what it views as unfair labor practices,...

The FTC has a plan it says would empower workers with an additional $300 billion in wages per year. While the proposal remains in the public-comments phase, corporate America has already begun chiming in, with most business leaders criticizing the proposal. It remains to be seen whether the new rule will survive, but as Steve Carey, Sarah Hutchins and Tory...

A handful of ESG-related regulations are in the works or go into effect in 2023 targeting global supply chains. Despite that welcome bit of clarity, companies still must act with dexterity as they seek to meet internal and external demands. Aravo’s Dean Alms shares his insights about how companies can avoid taking two steps back on human rights as they...

The Russian invasion of Ukraine continues with no signs of a resolution, and along with the protracted conflict, the U.S. has continued to issue fresh sanctions against Russian interests. For firms and organizations, compliance could mean embracing perpetual KYC procedures, writes Fenergo’s Rory Doyle. Since unforeseen and devastating events last February, the West has responded by waging a war of...

The DOJ's updated corporate enforcement policy continues to push companies to self-disclose potential criminal issues "at the earliest possible time" and introduces new potential rewards for doing so, especially for companies with prior criminal histories. The policy also gives prosecutors more discretion to reward degrees of corporate cooperation and remediation. However, as Miller & Chevalier’s John E. Davis and Surur...

The Family and Medical Leave Act turned 30 years old this month, and while the law protects (some) workers’ jobs, it also comes with a host of hoops to jump through, both for businesses and for workers. Compliance and legal experts weigh in on what works about FMLA — and what should change. “The need for this legislation is clear....