UK frms scramble to hire fraud experts ahead of new anti bribery law

Law firms and companies operating in the UK are preparing for compliance with a new anti bribery law by hiring lawyers from the UK fraud prosecutor. Under the new law, UK companies without adequate measures to prevent corruption may be prosecuted if a bribe is paid by a third party on their behalf anywhere in the world, even if officials didn’t know. Goldman Sachs, Covington & Burling, White & Case and Arnold & Porter have all hired lawyers from the Serious Fraud Office in recent months. “There is a real thirst for knowledge on the Bribery Act, a thirst for having the right kind of advice from someone who’s been on the other side,” said Robert Amaee, the former head of anti-corruption at the Serious Fraud Office who joined Washington-based Covington & Burling in January. “A good deal of my time is spent in helping clients understand the Bribery Act.”

UK frms scramble to hire fraud experts ahead of new anti bribery law bloomberg.com Sat, Mar 26, 2011