While executives and boards will never conclude that bribery is a legitimate way of doing business, understandably many have questions about how to direct their FCPA compliance program efforts and resources, write Iris Bennett and Claire Rajan, partners at law firm Steptoe.
Regulatory Enforcement
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
New era dawns on crypto industry with SEC dismissal of Coinbase case
The Securities and Exchange Commission dismissed its lead case against the cryptocurrency industry, a lawsuit against crypto exchange Coinbase, signaling an about-face in the agency’s enforcement approach toward digital assets under President Donald Trump.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
Treasury announces plan to narrow CTA’s scope; FinCEN says no fines, penalties for failure to report BOI
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network notified businesses that fail to report or update their beneficial ownership information before the agency’s March 21 deadline will not face fines or penalties. The agency further said it would not enforce the Corporate Transparency Act against U.S. citizens and domestic businesses.
Posted inAccounting & Auditing
PCAOB fines PwC Israel $2.75M amid ongoing sweep for internal training exam cheating
The Israeli affiliate of Big Four audit firm PwC agreed to pay $2.75 million to settle allegations it failed to prevent widespread cheating on training examinations despite internal warnings to staff about an ongoing crackdown.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
CFTC first agency to describe self-reporting credit under Trump
The CFTC issued new guidance for firms seeking to self-report misconduct, accompanied by a “mitigation credit index” that details how “exemplary” cooperation and remediation can knock up to 55 percent off the final penalty. The agency is the first enforcement agency to issue self-reporting guidance under President Donald Trump.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
Crypto exchange OKX latest target of DOJ, hit with $505M penalty over AML, KYC failures
One of world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges agreed to pay more than $500 million in penalties and plead guilty to AML and KYC violations, along with failing to register as a money transmitting business with the U.S. Treasury Department, the DOJ said.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
FCA fine against Infinox Capital may signal widening risk for smaller financial services firms
The decision by the U.K.’s financial regulator to fine a small trading platform around ten percent of its annual profits under previously unenforced rules has wider ramifications for the sector.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
U.K. competition and markets regulator wields new power to combat fake online reviews
Fake reviews of products and services are a global phenomenon, but regulators in the U.K. are beginning to use newly expanded powers to protect buyers and honest competitors following a recent crackdown by U.S. authorities.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
Interim DOJ Civil Division head nominated to take on full role
President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Brett Shumate, the current acting head of the Civil Division at the Department of Justice, to assistant attorney general of the division. Shumate’s nomination to the arm of the DOJ that primarily handles civil cases comes at a time when Trump’s administration has been signaling a shift in its enforcement priorities.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
FCA fines Mako $2.1M for ineffective financial crime monitoring program
Mako Financial Markets Partnership will pay $2.1 million (1.7 million pounds) in penalties to the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority to settle allegations that its financial crime prevention program was ineffective.