All Things Investigations

Welcome to the Hughes Hubbard Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations Practice Group’s podcast, All Things Investigation. In this podcast, host Tom Fox is joined by guests Mike DeBernardis and Shayda Vance to discuss the significant case involving Austal USA, a shipbuilding company facing charges of securities fraud and obstruction of a federal audit due to the misreporting of costs for U.S. Navy ships.

The episode delves into the actions taken by the DOJ and SEC and underscores the complexities involved when senior executives are implicated in fraud and the challenges companies face in maintaining compliance and cooperation with government investigations. The conversation highlights the importance of having a robust compliance program and the critical role of the board of directors in overseeing investigations. The guests also explore the specific ramifications for government contractors and defense contractors and the significant impact of U.S. jurisdiction on foreign companies listed on American Deposit Registries. Through the lens of the Austal case, the discussion provides vital insights and lessons for compliance professionals, corporate executives, and board members.

Key Highlights

Resources:

Hughes Hubbard & Reed website 

Welcome to the Hughes Hubbard Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations Practice Group’s podcast All Things Investigation. In this podcast, host Tom Fox welcomes back Tom Lee to take a deep dive in the Supreme Court’s invalidation of the Chevron deference and what it means going forward.

In this episode, special counsel Tom Lee joins the podcast to discuss the Supreme Court’s recent decision in the Loper Bright case, which overruled the long-standing Chevron deference. Lee explains the implications of this ruling on how courts interpret ambiguous statutory terms and provides insights into the decision’s grounding in the Administrative Procedure Act rather than the Constitution. He also discusses the potential impact on past cases decided under Chevron, future regulatory challenges, and the strategic considerations for companies navigating the new legal landscape. Throughout, Lee offers a thorough analysis of the evolving legal environment and its consequences for administrative law.

Key Highlights

 Resources:

Hughes Hubbard & Reed website

Thomas Lee

HHR Client Alert-Litigation After the Demise of Chevron Deference

Welcome to the Hughes Hubbard Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations Practice Group’s podcast All Things Investigation. In this podcast, host Tom Fox welcomes back Mike Huneke to discuss the recent French election and its implications. They explore the French electoral system, potential parallels with American and English elections, and the geographical and socio-economic dichotomies within France. The conversation also delves into the impact of European enforcement policies on multinational companies, particularly in areas such as environmental governance, anti-corruption enforcement, and data privacy. They also touch on the potential influence of the upcoming Paris Olympics and new European sanctions and export control directives on future compliance and enforcement landscapes.

Key Highlights

·      Understanding the French Electoral System

·      Comparing French and American Electoral Dynamics

·      Impact of Recent Elections on French Politics

·      France's Role in European Enforcement and Governance

·      Challenges in Data Privacy and Compliance

·      Future Outlook 

 Resources:

Hughes Hubbard & Reed website 

Mike Huneke

Welcome to the Hughes Hubbard Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations Practice Group’s podcast, All Things Investigation.

In this podcast, host Tom Fox welcomes back Mike DeBernardis to discuss recent corruption convictions involving individuals connected to Venezuela, as highlighted in Hughes Hubbard & Reed’s ‘Month in a Minute.’

We use these criminal matters as a starting point to discuss how companies can effectively manage compliance in high-risk areas by assessing risks, crafting risk management strategies, implementing specific controls, documenting processes, and training employees. We emphasize the importance of maintaining thorough documentation to meet regulatory requirements and auditing standards.

Key Highlights:

Resources:

Hughes Hubbard & Reed website

Mike DeBernardis

Welcome to the Hughes Hubbard Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations Practice Group’s podcast All Things Investigation. In this podcast, Tom Fox is joined by Jan Dunin-Wasowicz a partner at Hughes Hubbard & Reed, who is a leading figure in trade sanctions and Jeff Nielsen, International Sanctions & Export Controls Lawyer at Rambol, for a deep dive into current issues in export control and economic sanctions.

In Part 2 of a special two-part series on All Things Investigations, host Tom Fox is once again joined by Jeff Nielsen and Jan Dunin-Wasowicz to discuss trade sanctions from a global perspective. In this Part 2, Jeff and Jan provide their expertise on the EU Directive on Harmonization of Criminal Sanctions, detailing its implications and the challenges faced in its implementation across the 27 member states.

They explain the mechanics of EU sanctions, enforcement disparities among member states, and the directive's focus on setting minimum standards for criminal offenses. The conversation also delves into future outlooks on the EU's stance towards the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the evolving profession of trade sanctions compliance.

Key Highlights:

Resources:

Hughes Hubbard & Reed website

Jeff Nielsen on LinkedIn

Jan Dunin-Wasowicz on LinkedIn

HHR client alert on The Dawn of a New Era for EU Sanctions Enforcement? EU Adopts Directive on the Definition of Criminal Offences and Penalties for the Violation of EU Sanctions

Welcome to the Hughes Hubbard Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations Practice Group’s podcast All Things Investigation. In this podcast, I joined by Jan Dunin-Wasowicz and Jeff Nielson, International Sanctions & Export Controls Lawyer at Rambol, for a deep dive into current issues in export control and economic sanctions.  

Jeff Nielsen, an American lawyer with expertise in US and European Union sanctions, currently works at a prominent Danish engineering firm, having transitioned from practicing law in the US to navigating the complexities of international sanctions. Jan​​​​ Dunin‑Wasowicz, a partner at Hughes Hubbard & Reed, is a leading figure in trade sanctions, operating globally out of the Paris office. Nielsen’s perspective on trade sanctions is shaped by his direct experience with US and European Union regulations, viewing the field as dynamic, challenging, and necessitating an understanding of both legal frameworks and international relations. Similarly, Dunin-Wasowicz emphasizes the industry's complexity, dynamism, and the importance of staying informed about global affairs to anticipate risks. His work underscores the increasing role of the private sector in dealing with sanctions, highlighting the need for a proactive and adaptable approach to risk assessment in this evolving field.

Key Highlights

·      Private Sector Role in Evolving Trade Sanctions

·      Dynamic Compliance Strategies in Trade Regulations

·      Sanctions Enforcement Disparity: EU vs US

·      Global Landscape Risk Assessment in Trade Compliance

 Resources:

Hughes Hubbard & Reed website 

Jeff Nielsen on LinkedIn

HHR client alert on The Dawn of a New Era for EU Sanctions Enforcement? EU Adopts Directive on the Definition of Criminal Offences and Penalties for the Violation of EU Sanctions

Welcome to the Hughes Hubbard Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations Practice Group’s podcast, All Things Investigation.

In this episode, Tom Fox is joined by Yi-Chin Ho, who is the head of the firm’s China Practice.

Yi-Chin Ho is a seasoned legal professional and co-chair of the China Practice at Hughes Hubbard Reed, with a strong foundation in cross-border legal practice.

Ho’s perspective on cross-border legal practice, deeply embedded in her varied experiences, is based on her belief in its critical role for business growth and development, even amidst political tensions between nations such as the US and China. She underlines the importance of the symbiotic relationship between countries, emphasizing their mutual dependency on each other’s goods, services, and expertise.

Ho, a trilingual, cross-cultural lawyer, believes in finding creative solutions and providing effective counsel to navigate through challenging situations in cross-border dealings. Her culturally diverse background and proficiency in Mandarin Chinese have been instrumental in bridging gaps and facilitating successful business transactions between different countries.

Key Highlights:

Resources:

Hughes Hubbard & Reed website 

Yi-Chin Ho

Welcome to the Hughes Hubbard Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations Practice Group’s podcast, All Things Investigation. In this podcast, I joined by Mike DeBernardis to mine compliance lessons from the recently announced Gunvor and Trafigura FCPA enforcement actions.

Mike DeBernardis is a seasoned professional with a comprehensive understanding of FCPA enforcement actions and compliance matters, a perspective deeply informed by his numerous client advisory roles on self-disclosure decisions related to FCPA violations and his regular participation in industry discussions.

DeBernardis believes that FCPA enforcement actions are increasingly considering past misconduct as a determinant in assigning penalties and discounts. He underscores the necessity for companies to be proactive and innovative in their remediation efforts rather than simply adhering to minimal compliance standards. He also notes a decrease in the reliance on external monitors in FCPA resolutions, potentially due to businesses taking more initiative in improving their compliance programs and directly reporting to the DOJ.

In DeBernardis’ view, the Department of Justice's approach to FCPA enforcement is dynamic and adaptive, with companies helping shape best practices through their communication with outside counsel and the DOJ itself.

Key Highlights:

Resources:

Hughes Hubbard & Reed website

Mike DeBernardis

Welcome to the Hughes Hubbard Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations Practice Group’s podcast All Things Investigation. In this podcast, I joined by Hughes Hubbard Special Counsel, Thomas Lee to discuss the recent decision declaring unconstitutional the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) in the case of NSBA v. Yellen.

Thomas Lee  specializes in appellate law and constitutional issues. With nearly a decade of tenure at the firm and an impressive 21 years of teaching constitutional law at Fordham Law School, Lee is highly respected in his field. Lee and the HughesHubbard team brought the lawsuit on behalf of the National Small Business Association arguing the CTA was a constitutional over-reach, as it mandated the reporting of beneficial ownership data to combat money laundering and criminal activities. The constitutional claims included no Congressional authority for this regulation, privacy concern and lack of a foreign treaty ratified by Congress requiring the law. Drawing from his extensive background in constitutional law, they successfully argued that this federal regulation challenges traditional state regulation of entity formation and exceeds governmental power. This decision in the National Small Business Association case is a landmark case, which has now been appealed to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and appears headed to the US Supreme Court. 

Key Highlights

·      Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirement for Entities

·      Constitutional Challenges in Corporate Transparency Legislation

·      Court Proceedings of the Corporate Transparency Act

·      Efficient Negotiations and Potential Supreme Court Involvement

 Resources:

Hughes Hubbard & Reed website 

Thomas Lee

Welcome to the Hughes Hubbard Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations Practice Group’s podcast, All Things Investigation. In this podcast, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP partner Mike Huneke and I speak with Mei Li Zhen, Head of Ethics & Compliance, Commercial Operations & Subsidiaries, Airbus, about her role in the organization's compliance department.

Mei Li Zhen and Michael Huneke are two accomplished professionals with extensive backgrounds in compliance programs and company culture, having both transitioned from external counsel to in-house counsel roles at Airbus. With her experience working with diverse international backgrounds, Zhen believes that a strong, company-wide, embraced compliance program is not just about avoiding fines but is a competitive advantage that attracts young talent and gains the trust of investors and governments. She sees integrity as beneficial for the bottom line and emphasizes the importance of everyone in the organization feeling responsible for behaving with integrity. Huneke, a US-qualified lawyer working in France, shares a similar perspective. He sees a strong compliance program as a self-reinforcing cycle that attracts the right talent and enhances the business's reputation and reliability. Like Zhen, Huneke believes that compliance should permeate the entire company culture, with every employee feeling accountable for maintaining integrity in their daily activities.

Key Highlights:

Resources:

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP Website

Mei Li Zhen on LinkedIn