Between Regulation and Responsibility:

The Private Sector and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and Good Practice Guidance on Internal Controls, Ethics and Compliance

Starting from the perspective of regulation, this article will provide a brief overview of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and its implementation in the 38 countries that have joined since it entered into force in 1999. Focus will then turn to responsibility and the role of the private sector in the fight against foreign bribery. The article will provide an introduction to the 2010 Good Practice Guidance on Internal Controls, Ethics and Compliance, the first of its kind provided to companies, business organisations and professional associations and agreed by governments at an international level. The article will explore how legal professionals can benefit from the Good Practice Guidance when providing advice in relation to international business transactions.