Core concepts of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)

In this course we review the core concepts of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), one of the most challenging laws for U.S. companies to comply with, and also one of the government’s most-enforced laws. 

We start with a brief overview of the history and purpose of the law, and then discuss the basic provisions of the FCPA, including the “books and records” provisions.  Following this we discuss what constitutes a “foreign government official,” as well as the types of corruption that the FPCA does and does not cover, as well as ways that companies may inadvertently violate the FCPA.  We discuss penalties and current enforcement themes.  Finally, we present the elements of an effective FCPA compliance program and provide practical suggestions on how to avoid potential problems. 

This course serves as overview for accounting, finance, tax, and treasury professionals who want an overview of this law or would like a refresher, as well as practical insights on how to avoid FCPA problems.