The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced significant new guidance on March 3, 2023, regarding the use of personal devices and the retention of corporate communications. The DOJ’s concern regarding the use of personal...more
3/17/2023
/ Corporate Communications ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Instant Messaging Apps ,
Investigations ,
Mobile Apps ,
Mobile Devices ,
New Guidance ,
Risk Management ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Litigation ,
Third-Party ,
White Collar Crimes
Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Lisa Monaco once again delivered groundbreaking remarks at the American Bar Association (ABA) National Institute on White Collar Crime (ABA White Collar Conference) on March 2, 2023, this time...more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s (the Treasury) Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a highly anticipated final rule on September 29, 2022, implementing the beneficial ownership information (BOI)...more
The U.S. government issued guidance on October 14, 2022, emphasizing that the United States is “prepared to use its broad targeting authorities against non-U.S. persons” who continue to trade with Russia sanctions targets,...more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued its highly anticipated final rule implementing the beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements of the Corporate...more
10/4/2022
/ AML/CFT ,
Beneficial Owner ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Customer Due Diligence (CDD) ,
Final Rules ,
Financial Institutions ,
FinCEN ,
Jurisdiction ,
Limited Liability Company (LLC) ,
Penalties ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Lisa Monaco announced several significant policy updates affecting the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) enforcement practices for both corporations and individuals on September 15, 2022...more
9/19/2022
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corruption ,
Criminal Investigations ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Self-Disclosure Requirements ,
White Collar Crimes
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), on August 8, 2022, sanctioned virtual currency mixer Tornado Cash. OFAC alleged that it had been “used to launder more than $7 billion worth of...more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), on May 13, 2022, published its 2022 National Illicit Finance Strategy (the 2022 Strategy)—a comprehensive statement of the agency’s key priorities, goals, and plans for...more
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine persists, with no end currently in sight, the United States continues to issue increasingly punishing economic sanctions and export controls targeting Russia, most recently aiming at the...more
5/17/2022
/ Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Export Controls ,
Exports ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Foreign Entities ,
General Licenses ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Professional Services Companies ,
Russia ,
Ukraine
Russia’s invasion into Ukraine in February 2022 has prompted the United States and its allies, including the United Kingdom, the European Union, and others, to issue substantial international trade restrictions such as...more
4/21/2022
/ Banks ,
Belarus Sanctions ,
Economic Sanctions ,
EU ,
Export Controls ,
Financial Transactions ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
Trade Relations ,
Trade Restrictions ,
UK ,
Ukraine
Following Russia’s recognition of breakaway regions in Ukraine and full-scale invasion of the country, authorities in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and across the globe imposed a sweeping array of trade...more
3/22/2022
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Anti-Terrorism Financing ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
Belarus ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
Convertible Virtual Currencies (CVCs) ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Economic Sanctions ,
EU ,
Executive Orders ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Export Controls ,
Financial Institutions ,
FinCEN ,
Imports ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Patriot Act ,
Russia ,
SDN List ,
SWIFT ,
U.S. Treasury ,
UK ,
Ukraine
On February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin unilaterally recognized the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in Eastern Ukraine (Covered Regions) as independent states. Thereafter, Mr. Putin authorized a full-scale invasion...more
3/3/2022
/ Banking Sector ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
CAPTA List ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Export Controls ,
Exports ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Transactions ,
FinTech ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
SDN List ,
Sovereign Debt ,
SWIFT ,
Ukraine
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on December 6, 2021, soliciting comments on the potential extension of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), and the attendant...more
On December 7, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a highly anticipated proposed rule that would implement key provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), a...more
On New Year’s Day 2021, Congress passed the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (AMLA). As we reported last April, the AMLA 2020 included sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening protections against money laundering, terrorism...more
Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Lisa Monaco delivered an exacting message to the white-collar defense bar at the ABA’s 36th National Institute on White Collar Crime—the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is stepping up its...more
On October 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released guidance on sanctions compliance for the digital currency industry, the agency’s most detailed guidance to date on...more
10/20/2021
/ Compliance ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Currency ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
New Guidance ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Ransomware ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Risk Assessment ,
SDN List ,
Strict Liability ,
U.S. Treasury ,
Virtual Currency
Agency’s Focus on Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Continues -
On September 21, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released an updated advisory to “highlight the sanctions...more
10/5/2021
/ Crypto Exchanges ,
Currency Exchange ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cybersecurity ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Guidance Update ,
Homeland Security Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Ransomware ,
U.S. Treasury ,
Virtual Currency
On New Year’s Day 2021, Congress passed the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (AMLA 2020). As we reported last April, the AMLA 2020 included sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening protections against money laundering,...more
On New Year’s Day 2021, Congress passed the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (AMLA 2020). As we reported last April, the AMLA 2020 included sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening protections against money laundering,...more
9/22/2021
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Anti-Retaliation Provisions ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
BSA/AML ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Criminal Penalties ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Dodd-Frank ,
Employees ,
Financial Institutions ,
Money Laundering ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
U.S. Treasury ,
Whistleblower Awards ,
Whistleblowers
Recent guidance from financial industry regulators reminds market participants to remain mindful of their business, compliance, and operational obligations when incorporating technology vendors as a fundamental part of their...more
9/10/2021
/ Banking Sector ,
Compliance ,
FDIC ,
Federal Bank Regulatory Agencies ,
Fiduciary Rule ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FRB ,
OCC ,
Proposed Guidance ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Technology ,
Third Party Lenders ,
Third-Party Risk
As we reported in April, the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (AMLA 2020) aims to strengthen protections against money laundering, terrorism financing, and other illegal activities through a variety of mechanisms, including...more
7/15/2021
/ Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
BSA/AML ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Financial Institutions ,
FinCEN ,
Money Laundering ,
New Rules ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Terrorist Financing Regulations ,
U.S. Treasury
On New Year’s Day 2021, Congress overrode a presidential veto to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (AMLA 2020), which amends and modernizes the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). The AMLA 2020 includes sweeping reforms updating...more
4/13/2021
/ Anti-Corruption ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
Beneficial Owner ,
Criminal Penalties ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Transactions ,
FinCEN ,
Senior Foreign Political Figures (SFPFs) ,
Subpoenas ,
Virtual Currency ,
Whistleblower Awards