The impact on French business of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the recent UK Bribery Act – are you compliant?

McGuireWoods, KGA Avocats and Vigo Avocats held a joint seminar in Paris concerning the impact on French and international business of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the U.K. Bribery Act and French anti-bribery legislation. The seminar, which addressed the subject from legal, enforcement and compliance perspectives, was held on March 23 at KGA’s Paris offices. Clients and guests from various key industries – including construction, insurance, pharmaceutical and banks – were present. The speakers, in order of appearance, included:

• Philippe Simon of KGA, who provided an overview of anti-corruption legislation in the U.K., the U.S. and France
• Vivian Robinson QC of McGuireWoods on the U.K. Serious Fraud Office’s enforcement policy and its development since the coming into force of the U.K. Bribery Act
• Robert Plotkin of McGuireWoods on the FCPA from the standpoint of French businesses
• Laurent-Xavier Simonel of KGA Avocats on French public procurements put to the test of corruption
• Emmanuel Daoud of Vigo Avocats on the risk of corruption, a source of criminal liability for French businesses
• Pedro Montoya of EADS on implementing an efficient anti-corruption compliance program