To Disclose or Not to Disclose… That is the Question: The DOJ’s FCPA Pilot Program – Insights from Year One and Beyond

It has been over one-year since the US Department of Justice has launched its pilot program aimed to incentivize companies to self-report potential Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations. Since its launch on April 5, 2016, the Justice Department resolved nine investigations. However, the question still remains – “Is the carrot bigger than the stick?” This article examines settlement trends before and during the Pilot Program to answer the question of whether or not it is sensible to self-disclose.

Last month, Sandra Moser, the acting chief of the DOJ’s Fraud Section made it clear that the DOJ would be increasing its enforcement efforts of healthcare related companies. Although life science companies have not been immune to Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) investigations in the past, Moser stated that the DOJ viewed the healthcare industry as ‘one that faces serious compliance and corruption challenges not only in high risk markets overseas but right here at home as well.’ Simply put, life science companies will be under the FCPA microscope more than ever.