Conclusion

As we hope the foregoing chapters have underscored, it is high time that practitioners of the compliance, regulatory, and investigative arts recognize not only that other countries have credible anti-bribery/anti-corruption regimes—including ones with extraterritorial application—but also that new anti-bribery laws are being passed frequently. And from our perspective, even more importantly, is that the long-lagging enforcement of these laws is increasingly on the minds of prosecutors, regulators, judges, and politicians. As these key stakeholders and decision-makers gain a fuller appreciation of the wider fight against corruption, we believe they will feel emboldened to act positively to root out conduct that undermines democracy and the rule of law. We also believe these same stakeholders will be motivated to take steps that ensure that they do not fall behind their geopolitical “peers.” As a consequence of today’s increasingly polycentric fight against bribery and other forms of corruption, those advising companies will be expected to understand, and more importantly ward off against, this development’s direct impacts on companies and individuals engaged in cross-border commerce, regardless of where in the world they are based or do business....