U.S. prosecutors are currently pursuing dozens of cases under the anti-bribery Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and many multinationals’ Asian operations have come under scrutiny. In February, capacitor maker Maxwell Technologies Inc. admitted its employees bribed Chinese officials and paid $14 million to the U.S. Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission. The following month, IBM admitted no wrongdoing but paid $10 million over alleged FCPA violations in China and Korea. Just last week, British drinks giant Diageo likewise admitted no wrongdoing but paid U.S. authorities $16 million to resolve charges that it made hundreds of improper gifts and payments to officials in South Korea, India and Thailand, in exchange for tax and sales benefits.

International law firms are responding by putting litigators experienced in investigations work on the ground in Asia. According to a source at the firm, Debevoise & Plimpton, which conducted one of the largest internal FCPA investigations ever for Siemens AG (resulting in a $450 million fine, disgorgement of $350 million in profit, and admission that it improperly supervised employees), is close to establishing an on-the-ground disputes practice in Asia. This month, Kirkland & Ellis will transfer partner Samuel Williamson, a former Manhattan federal prosecutor, to its Shanghai office. Several other firms, including Kobre & Kim, Herbert Smith, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, have recruited or relocated investigations specialists to Asia.

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