Corruption costs corporations billions of dollars each year in lost revenues and penalties. But the true costs and damages to a corporation of corruption or of scandal go well beyond any monetary penalty. The damage to a company’s reputation and image can be immeasurable. And under a multitude of acts—including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the UK’s Bribery Act, some of the strictest anti-bribery and anti-corruption legislation in the world—corporations are not only responsible for their own behavior but also can be held responsible for failing to prevent bribes from being paid by or to a third party.
K2 Integrity’s global Financial Crimes Compliance practice, situated in New York and London, assesses the anti-bribery and anti-corruption programs of multinational corporations, large global organizations, and international agencies, helping them make certain that they have the right policies and procedures in place. Where necessary and appropriate, our team also undertakes investigations of breaches. Our investigators include former members of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, forensic accountants, and attorneys experienced in global corruption issues.
K2 Integrity helps companies establish appropriate frameworks and compliance programs to help ensure they don’t run afoul of complex legislation. Our team reviews current anti-corruption programs, tests for compliance, and works with clients to improve processes and procedures. In most cases, fraud, bribery, and corruption result in a predicated money-laundering offense. We help companies navigate this complex issue.
Our Methodology
Our professional teams work both strategically and tactically when implementing investigations and/or designing anti-bribery and anti-corruption programs crafted to mitigate the above-noted risks. We focus on problem solving, deploying a multidisciplinary team of professionals with a unique blend of backgrounds and experience, including computer forensics, cybersecurity, forensic accounting, and research, who provide solutions tailored to our clients’ needs.
Partnering with Clients
We combine internal technical expertise and comprehensive knowledge with a network of sources and an ability to obtain intelligence information outside of data, which means we are better able to provide effective and meaningful information. We become a partner and trusted adviser to clients, forming an integral part of their teams and working together to resolve the issues at hand.
Understanding Complexity
Our expertise and experience allows us to deal with more complex matters, ones that impact reputation. For example, many issues emerged with the passage of the UK Bribery Act in 2010, which introduced some of the strictest legislation on corruption by making it a crime for a company to fail to prevent a bribe being paid. Additional legislation passed in the UK is likely to make compliance even more difficult in the following areas:
- Transparency and Accountability: The establishment by the UK of a central public registry of company beneficial ownership has led to other nations adopting similar measures, the first step in a growing movement to create a transparent global financial system.
- Tax Evasion: Tax evasion will soon be treated similarly to bribery and corruption, with companies and corporations responsible for making certain that the agents, intermediaries, and suppliers that they deal with are not evading tax to offshore jurisdictions.
K2 Integrity’s experience in handling these types of matters can help clients facing such issues attain higher standards in anti-corruption and anti-bribery compliance.
Our Financial Crimes Compliance team has long been at the forefront of helping clients navigate uncertainty, corruption, and reputational risk. Let us help you.
