Over the years, Steptoe has assisted many companies – US and foreign, their foreign affiliates, and individuals – in effectively managing risks arising under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-corruption laws in their trade and investment activities. Our practice encompasses both preventive and remedial services as well as the representation of companies and individuals before key enforcement agencies. We have extensive experience in emerging markets, including Latin America, China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and the former Soviet Union, which often involve government or quasi-governmental participation.
In serving our clients’ needs in the anti-corruption area, Steptoe fields a deep and broad team that includes resources from senior partners to junior associates, all of whom are focused on anti-corruption matters as the principal (and in some cases exclusive) emphasis of their practice. In addition to their experience in private practice, our lawyers' governmental experience includes service in the Department of Justice (DOJ), the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the US Congress. We represent companies before the DOJ, SEC, World Bank Sanctions Board, and other bodies, and have performed special board committee investigations and internal investigations for companies, boards of directors, audit committees, and special litigation committees. Our principal resources are based in Washington, DC, San Francisco, London, and Hong Kong. Our team members in the Beijing and Brussels offices also provide important regional insight and support on issues that affect both compliance and investigations.
We are client-focused and seek practical and compliant solutions. Our experience around the globe allows us to make informed judgments about issues that arise in both the preventive and remedial sides of our work, and to handle matters with efficiency. Some of our clients are "one-off" (for example, when there is need for independent advice, investigation, or enforcement defense), but other relationships go back many years.
Steptoe lawyers litigated the Kay case, one of the leading decisions to construe the FCPA's scope. We have also been involved and are currently involved in a number of recent FCPA investigations and enforcement actions involving Latin America, Russia and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia. We have been at the forefront of World Bank and other multilateral development bank investigations and sanctions proceedings, and have experience with parallel proceedings in multiple jurisdictions.
Steptoe lawyers have held and hold leadership positions in the Coalition for Integrity (formerly Transparency International USA) and in bar committees on corruption and money laundering, have testified before US Congress on anti-corruption issues, and have served on US delegations to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Group on Bribery and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). They write and speak extensively on cutting edge issues under the FCPA and related laws.
For a number of years, lawyers in our practice have consistently received the highest ranking in Chambers USA and Chambers Global.
The services of Steptoe's FCPA/Anti-Corruption team include the following:
- Compliance. Providing global anti-corruption compliance program development and implementation, including risk and gap assessments, drafts of policies and procedures, training, benchmarking, continuous improvement and advice regarding best practices.
- Third Parties. Conducting due diligence and audits on third parties, advising on risk mitigation strategies, training, and advising on other steps to manage the central area of third-party risk.
- M&A. Counseling on appropriate due diligence and risk mitigation measures, and representation of both buyers and sellers in M&A transactions.
- Joint Ventures. Advising on and conducting due diligence, safeguards, and other mitigation measures.
- Foreign Operations. Counseling and strategic support on foreign operational issues, including charitable and political contributions, gifts and entertainment, hiring issues, government support, payments and other operational challenges, including security support (and related business and human rights compliance issues), third-party issues, solicitation, books and records and other accounting issues, and local law prohibitions.
- Opinions and Reviews. Providing legal opinions, business review letters, and regulatory guidance on specific transactions, offset requirements and third-party agency arrangements, and advice and representation with respect to the DOJ Opinion Procedure.
- Voluntary Disclosures. Counseling and representation on voluntary disclosures to the US and other authorities; advice on collateral regulatory regimes pertaining to marketing activities, sales commissions, corporate governance (Sarbanes-Oxley/whistleblowers/Dodd-Frank), anti-money laundering laws and regulations, tax issues, and political contributions.
- Internal and Government Investigations. Conducting internal investigations in response to whistleblower or other allegations on behalf of management or the board; responding to government investigations and inquiries, including voluntary requests for information, subpoenas, and the like; and dealing with stakeholders including external auditors, financiers, investors, and others.
- Negotiated Resolutions. Negotiating deferred and non-prosecution agreements and pleas, and declinations under the FCPA Corporate Resolutions Policy of the DOJ.
- Criminal and Other Proceedings. Defending clients of charges in criminal and civil/administrative proceedings, including World Bank sanctions proceedings.
- Local Laws. Identifying and supervising counsel in foreign jurisdictions to obtain opinions on local law regarding gratuities provided to government officials and coordinate integrated advice on FCPA and local law issues.
- Collateral Disputes and Whistleblower Matters. Assisting clients in resolving local disputes, arbitration, and litigation arising from FCPA compliance requirements and shareholder derivative complaints, and addressing whistleblower issues.
- Monitorships. Assisting clients with the selection of monitors, supporting clients undergoing monitorships, and serving as monitors.
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World Bank Sanctions Process. Counseling and representation in World Bank and other international financial institution investigations, sanctions proceedings, negotiated resolutions, cross-debarment matters and other collateral consequences, and voluntary disclosures.
Understanding local law is an increasingly important element in any effective global anti-corruption program. Steptoe has created the International Anti-Corruption Law Guide to meet this challenge. The guide offers web-accessible compliance reports that provide corporate subscribers and their employees with detailed information on local anti-corruption laws around the globe. Currently, 47 countries are included.
Our resources in other areas of international regulatory compliance (for example, export controls and economic sanctions) allow us to provide advice and support to clients on issues that may arise in the course of their international operations.
Industries
- Aviation and transportation
- Chemicals
- Computer hardware and software
- Consulting and other professional services
- Defense
- Energy
- Engineering and construction
- Entertainment and leisure
- Extractive, including oil and gas, mining, and related services
- Financial services, including private equity, hedge funds, and insurance
- Hospitals and healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Pharmaceutical and medical devices
- Telecommunications services and equipment
- Retail
Noteworthy
- Global Investigations Review (GIR) 100, Top 30 Firms for Investigations Worldwide (2015-2023)
- Chambers Asia-Pacific, International Trade/WTO, Asia-Pacific Region (2009-2023)
- Chambers Asia-Pacific, International Trade/WTO, China (2011-2022)
- Chambers Greater China, Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption (2024)
- Chambers Global, International & Cross-Border Capabilities, International Disputes & Regulation, US (2019-2025)
- Chambers Global, Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption, (International Firms), China (2021-2025)
- Chambers Global, Corporate Crime & Investigations, US (2017-2025)
- Chambers Global, Investigations & Enforcement: International & Cross-Border, US (2020-2025)
- Chambers Global, Disputes, International & Cross-Border Capabilities, US (2019-2025)
- Chambers Global, FCPA, US (2017-2025)
- Chambers Global, Corporate Investigations: Anti-Corruption, Global (2015-2018, 2022, 2025)
- Chambers Global, Corporate Crime & Investigations (2025)
- Chambers Latin America, Corporate Crime & Investigations: Latin America-wide (2016-2018)
- Chambers USA, FCPA, Nationwide (2014-2024)
- Chambers USA, Corporate Crime & Investigations, Nationwide (2015-2023)
- Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Regulatory: Anti-Corruption and Compliance, Hong Kong (2021-2024)
- Legal 500 Latin America, the International Firms: Compliance and Investigations (2023)
- Legal 500 UK, Risk advisory: Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (2012-2019, 2022-2023)
- China Law & Practice, Shortlisted, International Firm of the Year: Regulatory & Compliance (2018, 2021-2022)
- China Business Law Journal, China Business Law Award: Anti-Bribery & Compliance (2015, 2018)
News & Publications
Press Releases
Ross Weingarten, Former Assistant United States Attorney, Joins Steptoe
April 16, 2025
Investigations & Enforcement Blog
UK, France and Switzerland Announce New Task Force To Tackle International Corruption Alliance
March 31, 2025
Media Mentions
Global Investigations Review Quotes Alex Melia on Uptick in OFSI Investigations
March 26, 2025
Political Law Blog
Staying Ahead of Congressional Investigations in 2025: Strategies and Key Insights
March 19, 2025
Client Alerts
Strategies for Staying Ahead: Key Insights on Congressional Investigations in 2025
March 17, 2025
Media Mentions
March 7, 2025
Press Releases
March 5, 2025
Stepwise Risk Outlook
New Executive Order Pausing Enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
February 21, 2025
By: Dana Dyson
Events
Webinars
Quarterly Investigations & Enforcement Update
October 30, 2024
Speakers: Jason Abel, Akita Adkins, Iris E. Bennett, Amba M. Datta, Sandra Hanna, Ryan Hayden, Patrick F. Linehan, Michael Campion Miller, Zoe Osborne, Wendy Wysong
Webinars
Quarterly Investigations & Enforcement Update
July 31, 2024
Speakers: Jason Abel, Iris E. Bennett, Coy Garrison, John J. Kavanagh, Michael Campion Miller, Zoe Osborne, Wendy Wysong
Webinars
Quarterly Investigations & Enforcement Update Webinar
May 1, 2024
Speakers: Jason Abel, Iris E. Bennett, Christopher R. Conte, Amba M. Datta, Patrick F. Linehan, Michael Campion Miller, Zoe Osborne, Wendy Wysong
Webinars
An Insider's Perspective on DOJ with Andrew Adams
November 8, 2023
Speaker: Andrew C. Adams
Webinars
Investigations & Enforcement Webinar Series
October 19, 2023
Speakers: Andrew C. Adams, Jason Abel, Iris E. Bennett, Christopher R. Conte, Patrick F. Linehan, John J. Kavanagh, Zoe Osborne, Wendy Wysong
Webinars
Investigations & Enforcement Webinar Series
July 27, 2023
Speakers: Jason Abel, Lee Berger, Christopher R. Conte, Amba M. Datta, Patrick F. Linehan, Cáitrín McKiernan, Michael Campion Miller, Zoe Osborne, Wendy Wysong
Seminars & Events
Global Trade and Enforcement Symposium in Hong Kong
June 1, 2023
Speakers: Renato Antonini, Yongqing Bao, Brigida Benitez, Brian G. Burke, Ali Burney, Henry Cao, John Caracappa, Boyd Cloern, Robyn C. Crowther, Brian J. Fleming, Coy Garrison, Zoey Hong, Stanley C. Kuo, Amy J. Lentz, Michelle L. Levin, Patrick F. Linehan, Jamie Lucia, Alexandra Melia, Cáitrín McKiernan, Eva Monard, Darryl Nirenberg, Gwendolyn Prothro Renigar, Angus Rodger, Guy Soussan, David M. Stetson, Grace Wang, Philip R. West, Charles Whiddington, Wendy Wysong, Lin Yang, Bo Yue, Wilson Zhao
Webinars
October 18, 2022
Speakers: Brigida Benitez, Iris E. Bennett, Carlos Ayres, Bruno Maeda, Larry Walker
International Law Advisories
Client Alerts
FCPA/Anti-Corruption Developments: 2022 Year in Review
February 24, 2023
By: Iris E. Bennett
Client Alerts
FCPA/Anti-Corruption Developments: 2021 Year in Review
February 15, 2022
By: Iris E. Bennett, Brigida Benitez, Zoe Osborne, Wendy Wysong, Jingchun (Cherry) Huang, Samantha McCarthy, James M. Purce, Lin Yang, Bo Yue, Wilson Zhao, Joshua Dupre (law clerk), Zhaoxi Zhang (international paralegal)
Client Alerts
Singapore Data Protection: Considerations for Data Driven Compliance Activities
February 1, 2021
By: Wendy Wysong, Ali Burney
Client Alerts
The Top Ten Asia-Pacific FCPA Enforcement Actions of 2020
January 27, 2021
By: Wendy Wysong
Client Alerts
FCPA/Anti-Corruption Developments: 2020 Year in Review
January 19, 2021
By: Zoe Osborne, Brigida Benitez, Alexandra Baj, Christopher R. Conte, Alexandra Melia, Ali Burney, Fernando Q. Merino, Wendy Wysong, Jefferson Klocke, Jingchun (Cherry) Huang, Troy Shephard, Lin Yang, Bo Yue, Lucas Caiado (International Regulation & Compliance Intern), Jordan Cannon (Law Clerk), Marcia Pulcherio (International Trainee)
Client Alerts
World Bank COVID-19 Emergency Financing: Seizing Opportunities While Avoiding Pitfalls
January 6, 2021
By: Brigida Benitez
Client Alerts
Due Diligence: Top 10 Benefits of Hiring Independent Compliance Counsel
August 4, 2020
Client Alerts
Top Ten Changes to the DOJ/SEC FCPA Resource Guide
July 20, 2020
By: Christopher R. Conte, Brigida Benitez, Wendy Wysong, Ali Burney, Jefferson Klocke
Client Alerts
June 23, 2020