bribery & corruption 

What is Bribery & corruption?

The definition of corruption is the abuse of any form of power for private gain. Some examples of this could be:

• A person who is given power by an organization who then goes on to abuse it
• A form of activity that is beyond the position or remit of a person
• A person who has obtained a form of benefit for personal gain rather than that of their firm.

Bribery itself comes under the umbrella of corruption. Bribery is generally the illicit offering, promising, or giving of something, whether financial or physical, to influence another individual, normally an employer or employee. These could be:

• Financial payments to an individual
• Offering certain benefits such as gifts, donations, entertainment, internships and sponsorships.
• Levels of comfort or hospitality that are disproportionate or inappropriate to a business transactionWhatever form you may have witnessed or received bribery or corruption, it is not only illegal, but highly inappropriate and can make the individual feel intimidated.

What are the Anti-bribery & Corruption Rules?

Key Benefits of Using BRIBERY & CORRUPTION LAWYER

1. ADVICE

An expert criminal defence lawyer can advise corporates whether and when to self-report, as well as advise on negotiations with the relevant authorities to mitigate sanctions.

2. PREVENTION

A lawyer can advise on the design and structure of a businesses compliance programme. Furthermore, once implemented a lawyer can help to monitor and review the procedures to prevent bribery and corruption. 

3. STRATEGY

A criminal defence lawyer can provide information on how much the case is likely to cost and the best strategy available to them in their current situation.

4. UNDERSTANDING

A lawyer who specialises in criminal fraud can ensure you understand your rights, provide clarity, advocacy and representation when presenting evidence in court. Furthermore, they can structure a comprehensive case to your individual circumstances in an objective manner. 

5. PROTECTION 

If you have been suspected of bribery and corruption a lawyer can help by building you a strong case considering the accusations brought by the prosecution, the consequences of the case. 

how a lawyer can help with bribery & Corruption cases

Signs of corruption are usually quite simple to spot but can be difficult to follow up without the necessary representation by a lawyer. For example, these may be if you have worked with an individual, agent or partner who has been reluctant to go through proper procedures has requested that payments be made into an offshore account or has requested a disproportionately high commission fee (amongst many other things).

Situations, where you may be at risk of bribery, could include facilitation payments (small bribe offers for routine services) or anything that is given to you that has any form of value. For a gift to not be considered a bribe, it must be transparent, be proportionate and have a legitimate business purpose.

Bribery can result in huge fines for corporations and in some cases can result in imprisonment, so don’t hesitate to take legal action and start your claim. Our partner bribery and corruption lawyers have experience in advising witnesses in bribery and corruption investigations

An investigation into bribery and corruption can be extremely stressful, but our partner lawyers can offer expert, cost-effective support for those for wish to start an investigation, or are equally being investigated.