Media Mentions - Written by Barry & Richard on Monday, October 4, 2010 11:07 - 1 Comment
Barry Vitou quoted in the AM Law Daily: Gearing up for the new Bribery Act
Barry Vitou quoted in the AM Law Daily on October 4 2010 with Lord Goldsmith about the new Bribery Act, its impact and the steps laws firms are taking to gear up for this new practice area. The Article was syndicated to Law.com and various other publications.
Yes ‘gearing up’ is the whole issue. It will take time for companies to change their stance on this and for good reason. A gift made by one employee to a counterpart may well be permissible.
However a similar gift made by another employee may well be construed as a bribe.
It all comes down to the motive and surrounding circumstances.
I provide guidance on improving or introducting in-house anti-bribery programmes and I am genuinely surprised just how far UK firms have to go. It is already leaving it a bit late to start so the sooner compliance departments and management obtain some input and help – the better for all. This Bribery Act has real substance to it – so must your compliance programme.