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    Mar. 11, 2026

How to Prepare for an Increase in Customs Whistleblowers

The Trump administration has sent a clear signal to compliance professionals that customs fraud is an enforcement priority, and it wants whistleblowers to come forward to report these crimes. Customs questions that may have once simmered in the background should now be front and center for compliance officers, as they are for government investigators offering large rewards for reports of customs fraud. In this guest article, partner Chris McLamb and associate Elizabeth Soltan of Whistleblower Partners identify a number of customs red flags that compliance teams should look for to help ensure issues are addressed before an employee (or third party) blows the whistle. See “U.K. Launches U.S.-Style Whistleblower Reward Program to Combat Tax Fraud and the SFO May Be Next” (Apr. 23, 2025).

As CPI Scores Slump Globally, All Eyes Are on the U.S.

Transparency International (TI), a Germany-based research group, released a report (Report) summarizing the 2025 updates to its Corruption Perception Index (CPI), a measurement of perceptions of corruption for 182 countries and territories. “Corruption is worsening globally, with even established democracies experiencing rising corruption amid a decline in leadership,” according to a TI press release. Indeed, the United States’ CPI score for 2025 declined to 64, its lowest ever, and TI suggests the new U.S. presidential administration may be a root cause. This article draws on conversations with experts about takeaways from the Report and the new CPI rankings. See “TI Sees Hope in Digitalization Despite Global Corruption Rise” (Apr. 9, 2025).

How the International Anti-Corruption Task Force Is Working

In March 2025, enforcers from the U.K., France and Switzerland announced the formation of the International Anti-Corruption Prosecutorial Taskforce (Taskforce). At the time, details were sparse about how the Taskforce would operate. One year later, prosecutors in all three countries have clarified how the Taskforce works, its goals and its role in the larger international cooperation picture. This article synthesizes their insights. See “The International Anti-Corruption Taskforce and U.S. FCPA Enforcement: A Look Ahead” (May 7, 2025).

IPI Partners Settles OFAC Allegations of Violating Sanctions on Russia

When sanctions are imposed on an existing business partner, firms can find themselves in a sticky situation. In a settlement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), private equity firm IPI Partners, LLC (IPI) agreed to pay nearly $11.5 million after it failed to cut off ties with an entity affiliated with a Russian billionaire placed on OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list. IPI conducted only cursory due diligence when a deeper dive was warranted and sought advice from counsel without disclosing critical details. The Anti-Corruption Report spoke with experts to parse the settlement details and glean insights for companies on how to avoid OFAC liability. See “White Deer Sanctions Settlement Underscores the Importance of Post-Acquisition Cleanup” (Jul. 30, 2025).

Understanding the Legal Risks for AI in Compliance Programs

As companies adopt AI across their operations, the compliance team uniquely serves as both an internal regulator and a user. It often helps shape AI governance by identifying and mitigating risks while also leveraging AI to streamline labor‑intensive tasks such as due diligence and transaction monitoring. In a recent webinar that was part of SCCE’s AI & Compliance Conference Series, experts discussed how to avoid unwanted governmental scrutiny because of AI use, and how to exploit AI’s benefits for compliance. This article distills their insights. See “Ten Tips for Building a Generative AI Compliance Policy Tool” (Dec. 31, 2025).

DOJ Compliance Unit Head Joins KPMG

Lauren Kootman has joined KPMG as a managing director of compliance governance, monitoring and quality controls in Washington, D.C. She most recently served as acting chief of the Corporate Enforcement, Compliance & Policy Unit in the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division of the DOJ. For commentary from Kootman, see “Thoughts From DOJ Experts on Using Data Analytics to Strengthen Compliance Programs” (May 22, 2024).

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Trailblazing Women – Contributions, Achievements and Observations of Outstanding Leaders

To mark International Women’s Day, Law Report Group editors, along with our colleagues across ION Analytics’ products, interviewed outstanding women in the industries and jurisdictions we cover. In this article, Jill Abitbol, Robin Barton, Rorie Norton and Megan Zwiebel profile notable women in the data privacy, cybersecurity, AI, private funds and anti-corruption law fields, including (i) Paula Howell Anderson, (ii) Gwendolyn Lee Hassan, (iii) Audrey Koh, (iv) Stacy Feuer, (v) Heather Egan, (vi) Jeewon Serrato, (vii) Stephanie Breslow, (viii) Anne Choe, (ix) Heather Wyckoff, (x) Angie Batterson, (xi) Jacqueline Eaves, and (xii) C. Dabney O’Riordan.

Enjoy reading their inspiring remarks here.