Global companies and corporate officers and employees face significant criminal antitrust risks.  The US Department of Justice's Antitrust Division has a mature and aggressive enforcement program targeting illegal cartel activity.  Unfortunately, companies have been slow to implement ethics and compliance programs that are adequately focused on these serious criminal risks.

In this episode, Michael Volkov discusses the need for robust ethics and compliance programs and strategies to mitigate criminal antitrust risks.

In the aftermath of the Panama Papers scandal and increased focus on shell companies and hidden ownership interests, US enforcement and regulatory agencies are increasing focus on beneficial ownership of related entities.  In this era of aggressive enforcement, global companies have to integrate beneficial ownership requirements when conducting due diligence of business associates and when engaging customers in order to ensure full compliance with anti-corruption, sanctions and anti-money laundering requirements.

In this episode, Michael Volkov discusses the current environment and the need to identify beneficial owners.  He reviews requirements for anti-corruption due diligence, sanctions and AML requirements.

The Ukraine-Russia Sanctions program is a complex set of executives orders, statutes and regulations defining prohibited business transactions with Russian entities and individuals.  The sanctions program was instituted in 2014 in response to Russia's invasion of the Ukraine and annexation of Crimea.  In August 2017, Congress enacted statues and directed OFAC to implement additional regulations.  Congress acted in response to fears that the Trump Administration would relax the Russia Sanctions Program.

In this episode, Michael Volkov reviews the Russian Sanctions Program and discusses some practical concerns and warnings for compliance professionals for business interactions with Russian entities and individuals.

The ISO 37001anti-bribery risk management system was issued in 2016.  The standard provides additional guidance on anti-bribery risk management systems and creates a certification process for organizations.

Even after one year, there are still questions surrounding the value of ISO 37001 and its certification process. FNotwithstanding the uncertainty surrounding the value of a certification, ISO 3700 includes a number of interesting practices and innovations that may assist a compliance program.

Corruption, Crime & Compliance is pleased to welcome Tom Fox, the Compliance Evangelist, for an interesting interview on Tom's career, his vast compliance program and writing network, and his interesting perspectives on the compliance profession.