Keeping Your Business Operations Overseas Compliant
A major consideration for American Companies doing business abroad is the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977. This far-reaching piece of legislation is both largely misunderstood and incredibly broad in scope. The classic images of briefcases full of cash slipped under the table or millions siphoned into private bank accounts are part of it, but the Act can extend towards much more innocent activities. The Department of Justice can bring proceedings against a company for the conduct of a “stockholder acting on behalf of a firm” (say, an agent, or a local sales representative).