The UK Bribery Act and U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Traps for the Unwary in Corporate Transactions : Global Law Watch

The UK Bribery Act and U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Traps for the Unwary in Corporate Transactions : Global Law Watch

"Enforcement authorities and legislators in many countries have focused with renewed vigor during the past few years on seeking to investigate and prosecute bribery – in particular, bribery involving public officials. Commercial bribery also is prohibited in many countries, although there does not appear to have been a similar increase in the number of enforcement actions focusing on commercial bribery.
Several countries recently have adopted stringent new anti-bribery legislation, such as the UK Bribery Act 2010 (the “Bribery Act”). Many other countries have stepped up their enforcement of existing laws, such as the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1977 (the “FCPA”). Some of the increased enforcement activity has been prompted by domestic political considerations. But intergovernmental organizations also have played a role by highlighting the corrosive effect that bribery tends to have when it is permitted to flourish."