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Matteson Ellis Discusses FCPA Enforcement in Latin America in Latinvex

Subtitle
"FCPA & Latin America: Uptick After Slow Year?"

Latinvex

Matteson Ellis discussed how experts believe this year will see an uptick in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement, with a focus on Latin America and notably in Central America. In October 2021, Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General John Carlin said that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) had started to redouble its commitment to white-collar enforcement and that the DOJ was building up to surge resources for corporate enforcement.  "By the end of the year, such a jump in resolved cases did not materialize," Ellis said, adding that "This suggests that 2022 will see several FCPA corporate enforcement actions as an aggressive Biden administration redoubles its efforts to pick up the pace of resolved cases. If history is any indication, Latin America misconduct will continue to represent a significant portion of these cases." The zeal in enforcement could also lead to more individual prosecutions, Ellis said, as DOJ has underscored its intent to hold individuals accountable as well.