Global Anti-Corruption, Ethics & Compliance – New York

As we soon hit the 180-day mark of the Trump Administration, join our panel to take stock of enforcement priorities, new developments and what we can anticipate moving forward. Topics include:

• Navigating the present and future of FCPA enforcement at six months in—how has the focus on cartels and TCOs been playing out?
• Top priories of enforcement beyond FCPA and recent trends
• Status of the DOJ Whistleblower Rewards Pilot Program, M&A Safe Harbor Policy and, VSD Pilot Program
• Status of DOJ Guidance on FCPA and other enforcement areas
• New enforcement priorities pertaining to books and records
• The extent of collaboration with international authorities on FCPA and other areas of enforcement

Former DOJ and SEC officials, legal and compliance executives discuss the evolving landscape of enforcement and new priorities of the Trump Administration, as well as practical takeaways for updating risk management, internal investigations and compliance strategies, including:

• Navigating evolving and emerging enforcement policies
• Positioning your organization to weather the uncertainty of shifting regulatory environments
• Moving beyond reactive compliance strategies to implement more proactive risk management practices
• The impact of new enforcement shifts on your internal investigations programs: What might be missing for your program?
• Leveraging data analytics, real-time monitoring, and internal controls to identify and mitigate potential risks before they escalate

As more developments continue to unfold and much more to come, organizations are reassessing their risk ranking, compliance programs, and overall spend, with clear patterns emerging in how different sectors are approaching these areas. During this panel, we will explore:

• Navigating and assessing geopolitical and economic risk, political instability, and inflationary pressures
• How companies and financial institutions are upgrading ethics and compliance programs in response to new and anticipated developments
• Are companies rethinking resource allocation and spend-or staying the course?
• Integrating advanced data analytics and AI to predict financial, operational, and regulatory risks more accurately
• Re-evaluating compliance risks posed by third-party vendors and contractors
• Increasing investment in supply chain resilience and risk mitigation strategies: Concrete examples

Deploying AI and emerging technologies to drive efficiencies and effectiveness in compliance and investigations is required for businesses and organizations aiming to reduce risk, improve decision-making, and streamline operations. During this panel, we will focus on best practices for a structured approach to how to effectively deploy AI for compliance and investigations.

• Defining and distinguishing AI from other advanced digital tools
• Leveraging AI to detect irregular vendor and third-party payment patterns
• Deciphering the latest regulation, legislation, and guidance around the use of AI and emerging technologies
• Examining the pain points affecting AI integration
• Analyzing litigation and court rulings establishing precedent or scope of AI

Join a lineup of General Counsel and in-house professionals working under GCs as we address emerging issues, challenges, and strategies GCs are using to navigate legal risks in a rapidly changing environment. During this panel, we will explore:

• Staying ahead of legislative changes related to data privacy (GDPR, CCPA), environmental regulations, and evolving corporate governance rules
• How GCs are managing cross-border legal risks, especially in countries with complex and changing regulations
• Best practices for enhanced collaboration across departments to manage the broader picture of legal risk
• Navigating the increasing complexity and pace of change in the legal landscape, requiring GCs to be more agile and forward-thinking

Organizations are increasingly shifting away from punitive measures and focusing on positive reinforcement to strengthen company-wide ethics and compliance buy-in. Rather than relying on the “stick” approach, which emphasizes punishment for non-compliance, companies are exploring ways to motivate employees through incentives, intrinsic rewards, and fostering a culture of accountability.

That said, there is a concern that the pause put on FCPA enforcement could serve as an obstacle to sustaining a strong culture of compliance.

During this panel, we will explore:

• Rewarding ethical behavior through recognition programs, career advancement opportunities, and intrinsic rewards that align with employees’ values and motivations
• Modeling ethical behavior and creating a transparent environment where employees feel safe discussing ethical concerns and are encouraged to do the right thing
• Moving away from one-time, generic compliance training toward continuous, interactive, and scenario-based learning that employees find engaging and applicable to their roles
• Aligning ethics and compliance initiatives with the company’s mission and values to create a natural connection between doing the right thing and the company’s broader goals

Trump’s executive order, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, eliminates the “illegal” diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies of federal agencies and government contractors. This EO has important implications for employers in the private sector.

However, more recently, a federal district court judge in Maryland denied the Trump Administration’s motion to stay implementation of a preliminary injunction enjoining aspects of the Administration’s EOs. The court also denied the Administration’s attempt to limit the nationwide enforcement of the preliminary injunction. This case is currently on appeal to the Fourth Circuit.

Whether this appeal is ultimately successful (or not), the dramatic shift on inclusivity will continue to reverberate and affect the future of corporate programs.