Energy & Utilities Law, International Law & Trade, Criminal Law

Canada To Strengthen Its Laws Against Bribery Of Foreign Public Officials

by Alan Monk | Dentons on 5/13/2013

Mining and exploration companies with projects in developing nations should take note that an amendment to the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA) has been approved by the Senate and is currently before the...more

In FCPA Enforcement Sometimes Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction – The Cilnis Complaint

by Thomas Fox on 5/13/2013

I often marvel at some of the stories which come up in the context of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigations and enforcement. If you made up some of the things which are reported, I fear that people might find...more

UK Serious Fraud Office Launches Criminal Investigation into FTSE 100 Kazakh Miner ENRC

by Orrick - Structured Finance Group on 4/30/2013

On April 25, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced that it has opened a formal criminal investigation into London-listed ENRC, following allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption surrounding its assets in Kazakhstan and...more

Anti-Corruption Law And The Oil And Gas Industry: Evolutions In Both Demand Vigilance

by William Liess, Omar McNeill, Gregory Paw | Pepper Hamilton LLP on 4/16/2013

Businesses in the oil and gas industry are cautioned to pay careful attention to evolutions in anti-corruption law in the jurisdictions where they operate. The U.S. government has successfully enforced the Foreign Corrupt...more

New Anti-Corruption Provisions in EU Legislation: Increased Accountability for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies

by Neil Gerrard, Miriam Gonzalez, Jonathan Pickworth | Dechert LLP on 4/11/2013

Large non-listed companies incorporated in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) which operate in the oil, gas and mining sectors will need to annually disclose any payments made to the national, regional or local authority of a...more

Hot Topics in Mining Litigation

by Riyaz Dattu, Jennifer Fairfax, Laura Fric, Mark Gelowitz | Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP on 3/4/2013

Recent Canadian and international trends point to signs of an increasingly litigious mining industry and an increased risk of liability exposure for mining companies, officers and directors. Over the last several months,...more

Doing Business In Italy - Step Up Your FCPA Compliance Now

by Thomas Fox on 2/18/2013

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is no stranger to scandal and controversial statements, but lately his words and actions seem to be providing cause for concern outside of the European Union....more

CFPOA Bribery Fine of $10.3 million Imposed on Canadian Company

by Matthew S. Kronby, Maureen Ward | Bennett Jones LLP on 1/29/2013

Griffiths Energy International Inc. (GEI) pleaded guilty on January 22, 2013, to one charge of bribing a foreign official contrary to the Canadian Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA). This is the third...more

Wire Stripping: What is Old is New Again

by Joseph D. Gustavus, Jeffrey Richardson | Miller Canfield on 1/29/2013

Recently, Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) was in the news again for stripping original wire details so that payments would go undetected by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)....more

FOREIGN CORRUPTION RISK MITIGATION: THE IMPORTANCE OF RECENT US FCPA GUIDANCE TO CANADIAN COMPANIES

by John Boscariol on 11/26/2012

Over the last year and a half, Canadian corporate culture has been undergoing significant change in response to new and vigorous enforcement of the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA) by the Royal Canadian...more

Anti-Corruption Compliance Message Received? Risk Assessment Is Your Next Step

by John Boscariol on 8/15/2012

Recent enforcement activities in Canada under its Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA), including the conviction of Niko Resources Ltd. (Niko) in June of last year and ongoing high-profile Royal Canadian Mounted...more

FCPA Investigation Follows Allegations of Improper Payments to Customs Officials in Kazakhstan

by Venable LLP on 7/5/2012

Several major international oil exploration companies and a logistics provider have allegedly initiated internal investigations in response to allegations of bribery involving a joint venture entity and Kazakh Customs...more

REGULATORY: Global Competition Law: Pakistan’s Competition Commission grants Leniency in Electrical Products Cartel by Suzanne Rab

by King & Spalding on 5/15/2012

In a landmark decision on 4 April 2012, Pakistan’s Competition Commission (CCP) granted Siemens total immunity from fines for its cooperation in a cartel investigation relating to bid rigging in supplies to power companies....more

Alert: Exports Subject to Increasing Trade Control Scrutiny

by John Boscariol on 2/28/2012

Canada’s customs authority, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), continues to exercise its broad authority under the Customs Act and the Export and Import Permits Act to engage in numerous searches, detentions, seizures,...more

SFO Obtains Convictions in Private Sector Oil and Gas Corruption Case

by Morrison & Foerster LLP on 2/17/2012

The UK Serious Fraud Office (“SFO”) has recently obtained convictions against four individuals who received corrupt payments in return for the disclosure of confidential procurement information relating to the...more