With compliance priorities at the federal, state and international levels in a state of flux, companies are finding that private contractual relations with business partners and third parties are a critical piece of maintaining continuity. In this four-part article series, the Anti-Corruption Report takes a fresh look at compliance representations and warranties. This first article provides key definitions and looks at why these contract provisions still matter, how they become outdated and what they reveal about corporate culture. The second article will cover negotiation strategies. Part three will address how companies can verify compliance with contract provisions and enforce rights in the event of a breach. The final article will explore how compliance representations and warranties evolve as risks shift. See “Assessing the Criminal Division’s New Enforcement Focuses” (Jun. 18, 2025).