LAW 6632 - Transnational Corruption and the Law

Fall. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: LAW 5061.

D. Alonso.

This class examines the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and examples of other transnational corruption laws around the world, most significantly the United Kingdom’s Bribery Act 2010. We will consider the policies behind the criminalization of corrupt overseas conduct by corporate actors in various countries, and whether the goals of these laws have been met. The course will also examine how enforcement of the FCPA and other transnational bribery laws works in practice, with a focus on the policies of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the UK Serious Fraud Office. Other topics include current controversies about the reach of the FCPA, and key cases examining the statute, proposals to extend the FCPA’s reach, corporate anti-corruption compliance, and the role of anti-money laundering laws. The class will also include a case study of anti-corruption initiatives in a Latin American country.