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21 May 2010 / Alex H Rene , Lista M Cannon
Issue: 7418 / Categories: Features , Commercial
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21st century challenge

Lista M Cannon & Alex H Rene assess compliance confrontations in the wake of the new Bribery Act

The Bribery Act 2010 received Royal Assent on 8 April 2010, over a century after the passing of the laws that established the UK’s framework for the prosecution of bribery and corruption offences. While the Act is expected to come into force later in 2010 (possibly October) businesses must now pay close attention to the offences created by the Act, including the new corporate offence of failing to prevent bribery, and the severe penalties that businesses and individuals may face for failure to comply with the Act.

Bribery of another person

It is an offence under the Act if one “offers, promises or gives a financial or other advantage to another person” intending that person to perform improperly a relevant function or activity. The scope for what might amount to a “financial or other advantage” is broad. A breach occurs where the bribing party knows or believes that the acceptance of the

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NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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