Lessons From the U.K. Sweett Group Prosecution

The U.K.’s Serious Fraud Office has completed its first prosecution under Section 7 of the Bribery Act 2010. The Sweett Group PLC was sentenced and ordered to pay £2.25 million after having admitted to failing to prevent bribery by its foreign subsidiary, Cyril Sweett International Ltd. The sentence follows the SFO’s first deferred prosecution agreement, announced last November. Several years after the Act’s introduction, and after some criticism that it has not led to prosecutions, it is slowly beginning to bear fruit. In a guest article, James Maton and Jamie Humpreys, partner and associate in Cooley’s London office, discuss the key takeaways from the decision. See also “SFO Secures First Bribery Act Convictions” (Dec. 17, 2014).

To read the full article

Continue reading your article with an ACR subscription.