Even before the current economic crisis, businesses throughout the world had been operating in an increasingly global and aggressive enforcement environment, which will only grow more intense as major financial scandals emerge. Overseas bribery and corruption, market abuse, competition/antitrust and fraud enforcement is increasing, prosecutors and regulators are more aggressively seeking criminal sanctions and government support is growing for funding the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes. Cooperation between enforcement agencies around the world is greater than ever before and those corporations seeking to increase their global footprint need to understand the risks associated with cross-border investigations and prosecutions.

DLA Piper’s global White Collar, Corporate Crime and Investigations practice is a team of partners and associates who specialise in criminal, regulatory and compliance problems affecting major corporations, their officers and employees. We represent corporations, business entities and individuals at every stage of the business risk cycle – from legislative monitoring and lobbying; to developing proactive compliance programs and conducting internal audits and investigations; to providing advice during criminal or regulatory investigations; to defending clients in court when necessary.

Our work in this area includes:

• Bribery and Corruption
• Tax and Accounting Fraud Investigations
• Export Control, including OFAC and Sanctions Regimes
• Anti-Money Laundering
• Regulatory and Government Investigations
• Internal Investigations
• Criminal Defence
• Regulatory Enforcement Actions
• Compliance
• Securities Enforcement Actions

The team is one of the most experienced and well respected in the world. We make use of DLA Piper’s extensive global reach, augmented by strong local market knowledge. We operate in the UK, the US, Continental Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Many of our lawyers have served as prosecutors and regulators, providing valuable insights to clients who are facing investigation or trial. The group includes former senior members of the Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue and Customs, former US Attorneys, Assistant US Attorneys, Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission lawyers.