News & Analysis as of

Compliance Enforcement Actions Oil & Gas

Compliance programs typically refer to formalized institutional procedures within corporations and organizations to detect, prevent and respond to indvidual and widespread instances of regulatory violations. ... more +
Compliance programs typically refer to formalized institutional procedures within corporations and organizations to detect, prevent and respond to indvidual and widespread instances of regulatory violations.  In response to many corporate scandals evidencing rampant unethical business practices, many nations, including the United States, began passing strict regulatory frameworks aimed at curbing these abuses. Notable pieces of legislation in this area include the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), and the U.K. Bribery Act, to name a few. The foregoing statutes and the severe penalties often associated with them form the basis of many modern institutional compliance programs. less -
Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

nspection and Enforcement Priorities/Office of Pipeline Safety: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration July 17th...

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Office of Pipeline Safety (“OPS”) issued a July 17th memorandum titled: Inspection and Enforcement Priorities (“Memorandum”)....more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Storage Tank Enforcement: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Proposed Order Addressing Covington, Tennessee...

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (“TDEC”) issued a June 18th Proposed Order and Assessment (“Order”) to Diamond Investments of TN Inc. (“Diamond”) addressing an alleged violation of underground storage...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Storage Tank Enforcement: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Knoxville Facility Enter into Agreed Final...

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (“TDEC”) and Ziptron Energy, Inc. (“ZEI”) entered into an April 4th Agreed Final Order (“AFO”) addressing alleged violations of the Tennessee Underground Storage Tank...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Implementing National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives Consistently with Executive Orders and Agency Priorities: U.S. EPA...

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (“OECA”) issued a March 12th memorandum titled: Implementing National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Latest EU Sanctions Extend Asset Freezes, Restrict Oil Industry Dealings and Target ‘Shadow Fleet’

The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its sanctions policy toward Russia by implementing two rounds of restrictive measures that are intended to further intensify pressure on Russia’s government and economy. Specifically,...more

Morgan Lewis

Energy Industry in the Government’s FCPA Crosshairs: Recent Enforcement and Policy Developments - Empowered

Morgan Lewis on

The energy industry in general and the oil and gas industry in particular has been the target of at least 50 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prosecutions over the years—more than any other industry. Most of the cases...more

The Volkov Law Group

Trafigura’s Bribery Scheme: Clandestine Meetings, 3rd Parties and Shell Companies (Part II of III)

The Volkov Law Group on

Trafigura’s bribery scheme resembles the same schemes implemented by its significant competitors — Vitol, Glencore, Gunvor.  At the core of the conduct, Petrobras and Brazilian government officials collected bribes in...more

Thomas Fox - Compliance Evangelist

The Trafigura FCPA Enforcement Action – Part 4 – Lessons Learned

We conclude our exploration of the resolution of the FCPA enforcement action involving the Swiss trading firm G Trafigura Beheer B.V. (Trafigura), an international commodity trading company with its primary operations in...more

Thomas Fox - Compliance Evangelist

The Trafigura FCPA Enforcement Action-Part 3-The Penalty

We continue our exploration of the resolution of the FCPA enforcement action involving the Swiss trading firm trading firm G Trafigura Beheer B.V. (Trafigura), an international commodity trading company with its primary...more

Thomas Fox - Compliance Evangelist

The Trafigura FCPA Enforcement Action – Part 2 – The Bribery Schemes

We continue our exploration of the resolution of the FCPA enforcement action involving the Swiss trading firm G Trafigura Beheer B.V. (Trafigura), an international commodity trading company with its primary operations in...more

The Volkov Law Group

Gunvor’s Bribery Schemes — Third-Parties, Shell Companies and Evasion of Controls (Part II of III)

The Volkov Law Group on

Gunvor’s bribery scheme is not very surprising nor ingenious.  After all, a number of energy trading companies have been prosecuted for bribery over the years, including Glencore, Vitol, Freepoint.  Numerous individuals have...more

Thomas Fox - Compliance Evangelist

The Gunvor FCPA Enforcement Action: Part 3-the Discounted Fine

We continue our exploration of the resolution of the FCPA enforcement action involving the Swiss trading firm Gunvor S.A. The enforcement action came in with a $661 million penalty against the company, which has pleaded...more

Thomas Fox - Compliance Evangelist

The Gunvor FCPA Enforcement Action: Part 2 – The Bribery Schemes

We continue our exploration of the resolution of the FCPA enforcement action involving the Swiss trading firm Gunvor S.A. The enforcement action came in with a $661 million penalty against the company, which has pleaded...more

Thomas Fox - Compliance Evangelist

The Gunvor FCPA Enforcement Action: Part 1-Introduction

In March 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the resolution of a FCPA enforcement action involving the Swiss trading firm Gunvor S.A. The enforcement action comes in with a $661 million penalty against the...more

The Volkov Law Group

Ex-Vitol Oil & Gas Trader Convicted of Bribing Foreign Officials

The Volkov Law Group on

Following an 8 week trial, a federal jury in Brooklyn has convicted Javier Aguilar on charges relating to the former Vitol trader’s violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He faces up to 30 years in prison. Aguilar...more

Holland & Hart LLP

New Mexico Announces New Crack Down on O&G Operations

Holland & Hart LLP on

Citing low compliance rates with air quality requirements, the New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED) has announced it is ramping up compliance assurance and enforcement activities at oil and gas operations within the...more

Thomas Fox - Compliance Evangelist

Albemarle FCPA Enforcement Action: Part 2 – How to Hire Corrupt Agents

Last week, Albemarle Corporation (Albemarle), agreed to pay more than $218 million to resolve investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) into violations of the...more

The Volkov Law Group

Lessons Learned from the Albemarle FCPA Enforcement Action: Mind Your Third Parties (Part III of III)

The Volkov Law Group on

The Albemarle FCPA enforcement action was announced at a good time.  This year has been a slow year for DOJ’s FCPA enforcement program, although there are several months before the end of the year. The SEC, on the other hand,...more

The Volkov Law Group

Albemarle’s Reliance on Third-Parties to Execute Bribery Schemes (Part II of III)

The Volkov Law Group on

Albemarle’s bribery schemes look and sound like text-book examples of third-party agents being paid high commissions as a way to funnel bribery payments to foreign officials at state-owned oil refineries.  However, as usual,...more

The Volkov Law Group

Albemarle Settles DOJ and SEC FCPA Cases for $218 Million (Part I of III)

The Volkov Law Group on

Albemarle Corporation (Albemarle), a specialty chemicals manufacturing company located in Charlotte, North Carolina, agreed to pay more than $218 million to settle FCPA investigations with DOJ and the SEC stemming from...more

The Volkov Law Group

Frank’s International Pays SEC $8 Million to Resolve FCPA Violations In Angola

The Volkov Law Group on

Franks International (“Frank’s”) settled FCPA charges with the SEC for $8 million stemming from operations in Angola during the period 2008 to 2014.  The Justice Department declined to prosecute Frank’s for the same events....more

The Volkov Law Group

DOJ Charges Two Oil and Gas Traders with FCPA Bribery Scheme Involving Petrobras

The Volkov Law Group on

In its first enforcement action of 2023, the Justice Department charged a Connecticut man and a foreign national with FCPA bribery and money laundering charges stemming from a bribery scheme to secure contracts with Petrobras...more

The Volkov Law Group

Former Schlumberger Company Settles OFAC Case for $160k for Violation of Sudan Sanctions (Part II of II)

The Volkov Law Group on

In the second OFAC enforcement action released on the same day, September 27, 2021, Schlumberger Rod Lift, Inc. (“SRL”) (now d/b/a Lufkin Rod Lift, Inc.), and formerly a subsidiary of Schlumberger Lift Solutions LLC (“SLS”),...more

The Volkov Law Group

Lessons Learned: Foster Wheeler FCPA Settlement Underscores Danger of Third-Party Risks (Part III of III)

The Volkov Law Group on

We all know and hear about third-party risks – over and over again. Despite this recurring theme, organizations continue to pay the price for failing to address third-party issues.  It does not take a rocket scientist to...more

The Volkov Law Group

Vitol FCPA Settlement: Lessons Learned (Part III of III)

The Volkov Law Group on

The Justice Department is coming to the close of a record FCPA enforcement year despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic. The Vitol case also represents the first parallel prosecution involving the Commodities Futures...more

59 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 3

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide