ITAA Tech Law Webcast: Drawing The Line Between Lobbying and Public Corruption in an Era of Heightened Scrutiny

April 7, 2006 - 2:00 p.m. (EST)
Presenter - Joseph Dowley and Joshua Hochberg, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
Webcast
ITAA Contact - Mark Uncapher, muncapher@itaa.org

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Corruption investigations are once again daily front page news stories. As a result of the Jack Abramoff and Duke Cunningham investigations, some “traditional” ways of doing business and lobbying are being subjected to scrutiny. Enforcement officials, Congress and the press are focusing on what should be done and examining the need for new rules and laws. At the same time, the Justice Department and FBI have prioritized criminal investigations of corruption.

The risks for businesses and lobbyists in this overheated environment are very real. Reputations will suffer and valuable time and energy will be spent responding to intrusive investigations and designing compliance procedures to conform to changed rules. Individuals and companies that believe that ethics rules only bind corrupt officials need to consider whether their activities (including lack of appropriate oversight of employees and consultants) might be perceived as aiding and abetting criminal activity and how they will be judged in the court of public opinion.

This program will focus on ways for companies to avoid problems. The presenters will give insight into the existing rules and the types of activities that have lead to investigations and prosecutions. They will also discuss likely legislative changes and best practices and compliance activities that companies should use to protect themselves.

About Joseph Dowley
Mr. Dowley has advised corporations, associations and individuals with regard to a variety of tax, health and trade related issues since entering private practice in 1987. His efforts have included projects in the areas of taxation of corporations and individuals, pension taxation, Medicare reimbursement, health care reform and international trade. Much of his work involves interaction with members of Congress, their staffs and Executive Branch agency personnel, as well as drafting and interpreting legislation and advising clients on Congressional procedures and strategy. In recent years, Mr. Dowley has represented numerous clients and affiliated coalitions with reference to complex issues before Congress and the administrative agencies. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Dowley served as Chief Counsel of the Committee on Ways & Means, U.S. House of Representatives for two and one-half years (1985-1987), during the development and enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Mr. Dowley also served as Assistant Chief Counsel at Ways & Means from 1981 to 1984. Both as the Assistant and as Chief Counsel, Mr. Dowley worked closely with the House leadership and key Senate members as well as the White House and Executive Branch agencies.

About Joshua Hochberg
Mr. Hochberg has extensive experience with fraud and white collar crime issues. Prior to joining McKenna Long & Aldridge, Mr. Hochberg was Chief of the Fraud Section, and Deputy Chief for Litigation of the Public Integrity Section, in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. As Chief of the Fraud Section, he developed and implemented policy and directed enforcement initiatives on White Collar Crime issues. Mr. Hochberg helped lead the Department of Justice’s response to the wave of accounting scandals that followed the collapse of Enron Corp. in 2001. Working with the Securities and Exchange Commission, he has negotiated major global settlements of accounting fraud matters. Mr. Hochberg has significant experience handling public corruption matters. As Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Section, he supervised sensitive public corruption investigations of elected officials, government employees and agents, and election law violations. He is a frequent speaker at ABA, SEC, HHS, and Sentencing Commission conferences addressing white collar crime subjects including: health care and procurement fraud; interpretation of the “Thompson Memo;” corporate compliance and ethics; FCPA enforcement; and the sentencing guidelines.

About McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
McKenna Long & Aldridge is a full-service law firm of 400 lawyers and public policy advisors with offices in Atlanta, Brussels, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, DC. The firm provides business solutions in the areas of government affairs, white collar crime, public policy and regulatory affairs, corporate law, government contracts, intellectual property and technology, complex litigation, international law, real estate, environmental, energy and finance. Our clients are a mix of numerous Fortune 500 firms, mid-size companies, major government contractors, real estate developers and non-profit organizations of all types.

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