The strengthening of the fight against corruption at international level through multilateral cooperation and the OECD Convention, together with the growth and diversification of prosecution mechanisms, have led to a resurgence in cases involving the bribery of foreign public officials, which now account for a significant proportion of the corruption, influence-peddling and other integrity-related cases handled by the firm.
Example:
- Defence of a major oil group before the Paris Criminal Court in relation to allegations of bribery of a foreign public official. These proceedings took place in parallel with a deferred prosecution agreement concluded in 2013 between the US Department of Justice, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the company.
- Advising and representing a French bank prosecuted by US and French authorities for bribery of a foreign public official in the Middle East. First simultaneous signing of a Judicial Agreement in the Public Interest with the PNF and a deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ.
- Advised a major French company facing prosecution by several foreign authorities on the advisability of making a voluntary disclosure in France regarding allegations of bribery of foreign public officials, and conducted negotiations with the PNF with a view to reaching a negotiated settlement.
- Defence of several senior civil servants implicated in a criminal investigation into influence peddling, unlawful conflict of interest, corruption and favouritism. Case dismissed.
- Representation, as a civil party, of a French company in a case of transnational corruption and breach of trust, in relation to acts committed by one of its employees.
- Assistance to an individual suspected of complicity in corruption and money laundering in connection with that offence, in a case involving several states and which led to the conclusion of plea agreements for the corporate entity.
- Advising a French company which, following a general audit of its activities, discovered irregularities in several contracts presenting a high risk of corruption. Support in terminating contractual relationships with counterparties and implementing measures to detect and prevent corruption in future.
- Advising a French company following a report made via an ‘ethics hotline’ alleging embezzlement and conflicts of interest in the awarding of contracts, targeting an employee. Support during the internal investigation and its aftermath.
- Advising a French company on handling reports received via its ethics hotline, as part of its anti-corruption framework.
- Defence of several executives of a French public-sector company accused of favouritism, misrepresentation of the nature of a service, passive corruption through the solicitation or acceptance of advantages by a public official, and handling stolen goods, in the context of regulated contracts governed by the Order of 6 June 2005. Case dismissed.
- Defence of the Chief Executive Officer of a French company specialising in the production, processing and recycling of non-ferrous metals, accused of abuse of power and misuse of voting rights in connection with a criminal investigation into misuse of company assets, complicity and handling stolen goods, in relation to the sale of a zinc production plant to a foreign company. Case dismissed.