Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. In this episode, Tom Fox welcomes back Carrie Penman from Navex with insights from the SEC’s Office of the Whistleblower Annual Report.

Carrie Penman is a seasoned compliance professional and writer with a profound understanding of the surge in whistleblower reports and concerns in the SEC’s office. Penman’s perspective on the topic is that the significant rise in whistleblower tips being reported to the SEC is due to high-profile cases where whistleblowers have received substantial financial awards, which has raised awareness among employees and encouraged them to utilize the whistleblower program.

She also notes a decrease in internal reporting on accounting-related issues, suggesting that organizations should further examine this trend. Penman emphasizes the importance of addressing retaliation issues and fostering a culture that encourages internal reporting. She advocates for training first-line managers and supervisors to properly handle and escalate whistleblower reports, viewing the increase in whistleblower reports as a long-term issue that requires a multi-pronged effort and cultural change within organizations. Join Tom Fox and Carrie Penman on this episode of the FCPA Compliance Report to delve deeper into this topic.

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Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. In this episode, Tom Fox welcomes back Sam Tate, partner at RPC, who discusses the UK's Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act.

Sam Tate is a seasoned partner at RPC, an international law firm specializing in anti-corruption, compliance, and financial crimes. With a rich background in the oil and gas industry, including a stint as the head of anti-corruption at BP, Sam has a unique perspective on the UK's Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act and its role in enhancing corporate transparency and accountability. He believes that the Act is a significant development, particularly in its expansion of liability to senior managers and the introduction of a new failure to prevent fraud. These changes, he argues, necessitate a reevaluation and adaptation of companies' compliance programs to safeguard against potential offenses. Join Tom Fox and Sam Tate as they delve deeper into this topic on this episode of the FCPA Compliance Report.

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Sam Tate on  LinkedIn

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Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. In this episode, Tom Fox welcomes Ryan Lougheed, Director, of Product Management at Onspring.

Ryan Lougheed has over twelve years of experience in the Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) field, currently serving as the director of a platform at Onspring, a SaaS GRC platform and business process automation platform. Drawing from his background in esports, Lougheed believes that teamwork and communication are crucial in both the GRC space and the world of esports. He emphasizes the importance of effective and efficient communication, especially in high-stress situations, and believes that these skills can be carried over to a compliance-focused career.

In the context of esports, Lougheed explains that communication is vital in a team of five players and that professional esports organizations provide resources such as physical trainers and sports psychologists to support their players' communication skills. He also notes that the esports industry is evolving, with larger companies creating brands around individual streamers and organizations acting as agents to help grow the streaming culture. Join Tom Fox and Ryan Lougheed on this episode of the FCPA Compliance Report podcast to delve deeper into the importance of teamwork and communication in GRC.

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Ryan Lougheed on LinkedIn

Onspring

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Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. In this episode, Tom Fox welcomes Sam Silverstein to talk about the new software product, The Culture Audit™ which allows a compliance professional to perform a culture assessment as required by the Department of Justice.

In the ever-evolving corporate world, the importance of assessing and improving corporate culture cannot be overstated. This is the focus of The Culture Audit™, a software tool that provides a comprehensive assessment of a company's culture, identifying potential risks and areas for improvement, developed by Sam Silverstein and the Accountability Institute. Tom views The Culture Audit™ as a valuable tool, especially in light of the Department of Justice's focus on corporate culture in white-collar enforcement actions. He sees culture as a risk that can be assessed, managed, and continuously improved.

Sam shares this perspective and with his extensive experience in accountability and leadership, he emphasizes the importance of regular culture assessments, which can lead to a better bottom line by fostering a culture of high ethics, employee engagement, and quality decision-making. To learn more about the Culture Audit and how it can benefit your organization, join Tom Fox and Sam Silverstein on this episode of the FCPA Compliance Report podcast.

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Culture Audit

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Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. In this episode, Tom Fox welcomes Alexander Cotoia and Daniela Meléndez from the Volkov Law Group to discuss the challenges and legal implications of ephemeral messaging in business.

Cotoia's perspective emphasizes the significant risks ephemeral messaging poses for companies, particularly in terms of compliance and data preservation. He advocates for proactive measures, such as refining data preservation policies and monitoring all business-related electronic data. Similarly, Melendez, with her extensive knowledge and experience in conducting internal investigations, underscores the potential legal liabilities companies may face if they fail to secure relevant information. She cites real-world examples, like the Google case, to stress the importance of enforcing document preservation policies and educating employees on their responsibilities. Join Tom Fox, Alex Cotoia, and Daniela Meléndez as they delve deeper into this topic on the next episode of the FCPA Compliance Report podcast. 

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Alex Cotoia on LinkedIn

Daniela Melendez on LinkedIn

Volkov Law Group

Google’s Failure to Preserve Electronic Communications — A Warning to Every Company of a New Reality Surrounding Electronic Data

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In Part 3 of this special 3-episode series, we explore how Venice created the first modern hotline and whistleblower reporting system. Whistleblower and hotline reporting systems in compliance programs are crucial tools for organizations, providing a confidential platform for employees to report misconduct. Fox emphasizes the value of using an external hotline system, which offers an additional layer of anonymity and impartiality and can bring specialized expertise that may be difficult to match within an organization.

He also highlights the role of hotlines in collecting detailed information, which can provide greater insight into situations and help protect companies from accusations of negligence or wrongdoing. Furthermore, Fox underscores the need for hotlines to inspire employee confidence, offer on-demand support from subject matter experts, and provide inbuilt litigation support and avoidance tools. Join Tom Fox in this episode of the Compliance Lessons from Venice podcast to delve deeper into the significance of hotline reporting systems in compliance programs.

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In Part 2 of this special 3-part series, we continue our look at compliance lessons from Venice by reviewing the Arsenale and corporate culture. The Arsenale district in Venice, a significant maritime hub from the mid-1200s to mid-1400s, serves as a fascinating historical example of compliance program implementation. The district was renowned for its innovative shipbuilding techniques, which were zealously guarded as state secrets through strict regulations and severe punishments for violators.

Tom draws parallels between the practices of the Arsenale district and the guidance provided by the DOJ and SEC. He emphasizes the importance of a balanced approach to compliance, incorporating both incentives and discipline. Fox suggests that companies should provide job security, compensation for mishaps, and assistance to families as incentives for employees to remain loyal and compliant, while also using financial rewards, promotions, and acknowledgments as effective tools for incentivizing compliance. Join Tom Fox on this episode of the Compliance Lessons from Venice podcast as he delves deeper into the lessons that can be learned from the Arsenale district's historical example.

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Today we begin a special holiday podcast series on compliance lessons from Venice. In Part 1, we are doing compliance in the old-fashioned way.

The importance of compliance departments and the simplicity of compliance programs cannot be overstated. These elements are vital in maintaining ethical standards within an organization. An effective compliance program must have a compliance department that is adequately staffed with professionals who can handle the day-to-day compliance work. He argues that these departments should not only have the necessary headcount but also the expertise to answer questions and provide guidance to company personnel. Fox also underscores the significance of basic methods in compliance programs, likening them to the simple yet effective block-and-tackle pulley system used in Venice. Join Tom Fox as he delves deeper into this topic in the Compliance Lessons from Venice podcast episode.

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Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. In this episode, Tom Fox welcomes Billy Jacobson, well-known to the compliance community, who recently opened a new boutique law firm, Jacobson Lopez. We talk about why he co-founded the firm, the type of work it takes on, and where he hopes it might grow.

Billy Jacobson is a seasoned attorney with a rich background in white-collar law and compliance, having served as a DOJ attorney and worked on high-profile fraud cases such as the Enron trials and as CCO at Weatherford. His perspective on Jacobson Lopez, a boutique law firm specializing in compliance and investigations, is shaped by his experience and expertise in AML, FCPA, and BSA practices. With his partner, Jonathan Lopez, Billy co-founded Jacobson Lopez, a boutique law firm offering specialized services in compliance work, internal investigations, government enforcement, and individual representation. They aim to provide big law firm expertise at more modest rates, with greater flexibility and no conflict issues, positioning their firm as an alternative to larger law firms. To gain more insights into Billy's perspective and the work of Jacobson Lopez, join Tom Fox and Billy Jacobson on this FCPA Compliance Report podcast episode.

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Billy Jacobson on LinkedIn

Jacobson Lopez

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Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. In this episode, Tom Fox welcomes back LRN’s Susan Divers to discuss the second report 2023 from LRN on the LRN Ethics & Compliance Program Effectiveness Report, 2023 Global Standards Edition.

Susan Divers is a seasoned professional in ethics and compliance, working closely with Tom Fox and associated with LRN. She strongly believes in the significance of ethics and compliance programs in companies, emphasizing the need for continuous training and reminders to ensure employees understand and adhere to the rules and expectations. Susan has noticed a trend of integrating ethics and compliance considerations into HR systems, such as performance reviews and promotions, to hold individuals accountable for their actions. She advocates for a shift from rule-based to values-focused programs, emphasizing personal responsibility and implementing policies like Clawback to address misconduct and enforce consequences. Join Tom Fox and Susan Divers as they delve deeper into this topic on the next episode of the FCPA Compliance Report podcast.

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Susan Divers on LinkedIn

LRN

Ethics & Compliance Program Effectiveness Report, 2023 Global Standards Edition

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