Category Archives: Government Enforcement

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SEC Enforcement’s Annual Report Prioritizes Retail Investors, Cryptocurrency, Cybercrime, and Individual Accountability

Jeff KernJulie BaumanBy Jeff Kern and Julie Bauman on Posted in Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity, Government Enforcement, Internal Controls, Securities Exchange Commission (SEC)
The Enforcement Division of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently released its annual enforcement report (“Report”) for fiscal year 2018. The Report reflects an increased focus on retail investors, cryptocurrency, cybercrime, and individual accountability. Further, it showcases that SEC enforcement continues to be robust under the Trump administration, despite industry and media … Continue Reading

Fool Me Twice…SEC’s latest Cyber-Fraud ROI Indicates Future Enforcement Against Hacker Victims

Bill MatejaSarah AbergJennifer N. LeBy Bill Mateja, Sarah Aberg and Jennifer N. Le on Posted in Compliance Programs, Cybersecurity, Government Enforcement, Internal Controls, Securities Exchange Commission (SEC)
In the aftermath of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) latest Report of Investigation (“Report”) regarding cyberattacks via “spoofed or manipulated electronic communications,” companies should prepare to adjust and update their internal controls or face possible enforcement actions for violation of federal securities law.  Released as a warning to public companies about recent cyberattacks, the Report’s … Continue Reading

Look Before You Leap – Pitfalls and Trip Wires Inherent in Government Contracting

Anne PerryDavid GallacherBy Anne Perry and David Gallacher on Posted in Compliance, Do's and Don'ts in Government Contracting, Government Contracts Law, Government Enforcement, Procurement
Accepting money from the Government, whether through a contract, grant, or other transaction, does not come for free. In the commercial world, companies typically engage in a cost/benefit analysis when they make major decisions, such as whether to enter a new line of business, extend their product line, open new facilities, or expand globally. To … Continue Reading

Ninth Circuit Severely Limits “Rogue Employee” Exception for Corporations in Securities Fraud Cases

Julie BaumanBy Julie Bauman on Posted in Corporate Governance, Government Enforcement, Scienter
In an issue of first impression, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that a rogue corporate officer’s fraudulent intent can be imputed to a corporation even where the defrauding officer acted against the corporation’s interest, known as the “adverse interest exception.” In re ChinaCast Educ. Corp. Sec. Litig., — F.3d  –, 2015 WL … Continue Reading

Suspension and Debarment: A New Government Approach

Townsend BourneBy Townsend Bourne on Posted in Compliance, Debarment, Government Enforcement, Suspension
Contractors and government contracts attorneys are likely to see (if they haven’t already) a rise in the number of cases in which individuals, rather than corporate entities, are targeted by government officials for suspension and debarment.  This is significant because, under the FAR, the misconduct of an individual can be imputed to the contractor, causing … Continue Reading

Suspensions and Debarments on the Rise – A Brief Review of the ISDC’s FY 2014 Stats

Emily TheriaultBy Emily Theriault on Posted in Compliance, Debarment, Government Enforcement, Suspension
The upward trend of suspensions and debarments continued in FY 2014.  According to the Interagency Suspension and Debarment Committee (“ISDC”) Report to Congress, released March 31, 2015, while referrals to the suspending and debarring officials decreased 12% from FY 2013, suspensions, debarments, and proposed debarments increased, Government-wide, by almost 8%. Since the ISDC began collecting … Continue Reading

“How Dare You Charge That for a Spare Part!” – The Untold Story of the X27 Interface Assembly

John ChierichellaBy John Chierichella on Posted in Audits, DCAA, Government Enforcement, Price Evaluation, Procurement
The pricing of spare parts has been a subject of Government criticism for decades.  Pick up any DCAA or IG audit report relating to spare parts or any intra-agency memorandum on the topic and you will sense the dudgeon with which the Government reacts to the prices of those parts.… Continue Reading

Corporate Internal Investigations: Best Practices

Bryan DalyChristopher HaleMelissa EavesBy Bryan Daly, Christopher Hale and Melissa Eaves on Posted in Compliance, Corporate Governance, Government Enforcement, Internal Investigations
A CEO receives an anonymous call claiming that someone is stealing company trade secrets or that an employee is taking kickbacks from a vendor.  A GC gets a call from the HR director who has an employee accusing the company of submitting false bills to a government agency.  You are served by a government agency … Continue Reading

WE’RE BEING SEARCHED!

By Sheppard Mullin on Posted in Government Enforcement
If Government Agents Arrive, Follow These Steps: Ask for identification of the agent-in-charge and the prosecutor. Get business cards. Contact your company’s inside or outside counsel. Ask the agents to talk to your counsel. Request the agents not begin the search until counsel can be present. Read the search warrant to learn what areas may … Continue Reading
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