On today's episode we will hear from Chicago-based U.S. District Judge (and former Assistant U.S. Attorney) Virginia Kendall. Judge Kendall and Perkins Coie firmwide White Collar & Investigations chair (and former AUSA colleague) Markus Funk's conversation covered a wide range of topics. In addition to discussing Judge Kendall's journey from being a federal prosecutor to getting involved in the challenging field of fighting human trafficking, indentured servitude, child labor, and other forms of forced labor that taint the supply chains for goods and services we use every day, Judge Kendall also shared her perspective on common public misconceptions when it comes to the day-to-day realities of this particularly pernicious form of human exploitation. Judge Kendall also discussed the anti-trafficking and supply chain-focused book she and Markus co-authored back in 2012, and that was republished in its second edition in 2017; the realities of organized forced labor in supply chains during the COVID-19 era; anti-forced-labor compliance perspectives; and why, despite great public attention, enforcement of laws and regulations in the US and abroad concerning forced labor appears to be lagging. Their conversation ends with Judge Kendall providing in-the-trenches advocacy and litigation tips to more junior attorneys perhaps making their first foray into a courtroom. We hope you enjoy this candid, fascinating dialog.

On this episode of White Collar Briefly, Perkins Coie’s White Collar & Investigations Attorneys Markus Funk and Chelsea Curfman interview special guest Caroline McMichen, Global Ethics and Compliance Chief for Molson Coors Beverage Company, about the hallmarks of a successful internal investigation. Topics include tips for outside counsel on how best to be an effective partner in internal investigations and predictions regarding how the current pandemic and related economic challenges may change the structure of internal investigations in the future.