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A focus on multinationals: Whistleblower incentives on the international stage

Client Alert | 1 min read | 08.05.21

2020 was one of the first years in memory when many multinationals saw a reduction in the number of internal whistleblower complaints, and a sharp increase in the number of external whistleblower complaints. In this environment, several countries around the world are finding ways to incentivize external whistleblower complaints, including—following the United States’ lead—providing bounties tied to money that governments recover as a result of those complaints. In this article by Crowell & Moring Partner Preston Pugh and Incoming 2022 First Year Associate Danielle Alvarez, part one of a two-part series, we discuss the development of these laws and the specific types of complaints whistleblower bounty laws cover. In part two, we will provide recommendations on how multinationals can best prepare for these developments.

Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 05.06.24

FTC Imposes $3.17 Million Civil Penalty for Violation of Prior Made in USA Order

Last week, based on a referral from the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) filed a complaint against Williams-Sonoma alleging that the company violated a previous Federal Trade Commission decision and order dated July 13, 2020 (the “2020 Order”) pursuant to which Williams-Sonoma was prohibited from making unsubstantiated U.S. origin claims. The complaint alleged that, following entry of the 2020 Order, Williams-Sonoma made “numerous false and unsubstantiated representations that their home goods or other products are ‘Made in USA’ or otherwise of U.S. origin, when, in fact, they are wholly imported or contain significant imported components.”...