The UK Bribery Act, the growing international reach of UK law enforcement
and its implications for businesses in the USA, Asia and Hong Kong
Law Committee
First 15-20 minutes is for networking Sandwiches & beverages included
Hosted by the Law Committee
Join us for this informative talk as Jim Sturman QC, focuses on The Bribery Act, an Act introduced to consolidate the UK's previously 'unfit for purpose" anti-bribery legislation but which now arguably goes too far and creates a very real danger that Companies and individuals will unwittingly fall foul of the law. The Act increases the extra-territorial reach of UK prosecutors, allowing the prosecution of UK connected Corporate Bodies and Directors/employees for acts committed anywhere in the world even where misconduct is not by the controlling mind of the Company but merely by 'connected persons".
Jim will discuss the concept of 'taking reasonable steps" to prevent bribery, the extra territorial jurisdiction of the Act and steps to be taken to ensure the risk of investigation and prosecution is minimized.
The risks posed by connected persons, which will include intermediaries and agents will be considered.
The talk will also deal with the realities and the dangers of 'self-reporting" and whether such a step protects a suspect's position or may simply make it worse. Examples of the consequences of 'self reporting" and cases where there was no 'self report" will be discussed. The use of civil recovery and coercive investigative powers available to the SFO and other investigators will be discussed. In the modern era there is an increasing risk that a Company or its officers and staff can fall foul of the criminal law and Jim will discuss the ways to manage investigations and inquiries from regulators and law enforcement alike.
Further trends in international investigations and prosecutions, such as money laundering and the misuse of data will be discussed.
Location
The American Chamber of Commerce in HK 1904 Bank of America Tower 12 Harcourt Road Central, Hong Kong SAR (China)