ExxonMobilLawyers, no matter which industry, are grappling with how to deal with legal ethics and compliance issues in their supply chains.

In-house attorneys with international corporations, including Exxon Mobil Corp., addressed this dilemma head-on during the Association of Corporate Counsel's annual meeting in Washington D.C., Tuesday.

Robert Johnson, associate GC at Exxon, said his company's 430 attorneys worldwide are constantly confronted with new questions when it comes to areas within its massive supply chain. Just this past week, for instance, the company had to check whether it used any Kobe Steel products. Kobe came under fire this month after admitting to falsifying certification for copper, aluminum and steel products that were sold to as many as 500 companies.