The Contracts & Risk Management Conference, sponsored by the International Association of Drilling Contractors concludes today. I had a chance to attend the conference and learn a little about contracts.
One presentation that stands out is Global Developments in Bribery and Corruption – Drafting Tips: David Leckie, Partner, Clyde & Co LLP. One point David makes is that, in the US, transferring criminal cases to civil cases has yielded large revenues for the Federal Government. That is, a criminal case is not pursued, but rather, a civil (non-criminal) lawsuit is the target. He states this is being contemplated in the UK. Note that plea agreements in the UK are not allowed.
One famous example of such a lawsuit in the US is Goldman Sachs: S.E.C. Accuses Goldman of Fraud in Housing Deal. You can also read Goldman Sachs Will Not Face Criminal Charges: Justice Department.
We closed the first day of the conference with a mixer. Some of us continued socializing at a nearby restaurant. Check out the photo below of David Leckie; Claudette Gaius, EPEUS; Luis Miranda, Miranda Alliance; Veronica Geller, Geller Translation; and others. Find out more about the conference here: http://www.iadc.org/event/iadc-contracts-risk-management-conference/