Long arm of the law

摘要

European-wide laws usually emanate from Brussels or Strasbourg, but since 1 July, 2011, the UK Bribery Act from London has also had important consequences for construction companies operating across Europe. The Act extends the jurisdiction of UK law so that regulators in the UK can pursue corruption cases throughout Europe and worldwide - if certain qualifying criteria are met. Most questions about the new British law are not about whether the UK authorities can prosecute, but against whom and when they will choose to bring their first international corruption case. Companies based elsewhere on the Continent should take note.