Clifford Chance

Minimising corruption risk from counterparties in the natural resources sector

5 November 2012

As regulators and prosecutors around the world increase their efforts to combat corruption and bribery, companies need to monitor the actions of third parties as closely as those of their own employees.

Natural resources companies are used to operating in difficult territories – indeed they often have little choice. This makes them natural targets for regulators and prosecutors who are increasingly looking beyond acts committed in their territory, or even acts committed by companies registered in their jurisdiction. Enforcement of the UK Bribery Act and the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) reaches far beyond UK and US borders.

Corruption investigations and prosecutions can inflict serious damage on a company's profits and reputation. In this briefing, we explain what natural resources companies should be doing to minimise the risks posed by bribery by counterparties.

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