Covington & Burling LLP is strengthening its global anti-corruption practice with new partners in London and Beijing.
Robert Amaee, who joined the firm as counsel last year from the United Kingdom’s Serious Fraud Office; and Eric Carlson, an associate with expertise in Asian business and compliance issues, have been promoted in recognition of the complicated and global anti-corruption issues that companies face, the firm said.
“Three, four, five years ago, most people’s anti-corruption policy was simply an FCPA policy. Now there’s a need for a policy that reflects anti-corruption more broadly,” Carlson told Just Anti-Corruption.
Robert Amaee, partner at Covington & Burling LLP
Earlier this year, the firm’s London office added partners David Lorello, formerly of Steptoe & Johnson LLP; and Casey Cooper, formerly of Baker Botts LLP, to boost the anti-corruption presence there.
Amaee said clients are looking for nuanced, high-level guidance to help them navigate new anti-corruption laws in the United Kingdom, China and Russia.
“This is an increasingly complex area with multiple regulations, multiple countries that have new laws and different enforcement agencies across the world having an interest in companies,” Amaee told Just Anti-Corruption.
Before joining the firm, Amaee was head of the SFO’s Anti-Corruption and Proceeds of Crime Units, where he handled high-level bribery and money laundering cases.
Amaee represented the SFO on the U.K. Foreign Bribery Strategy Board, the Attorney General’s Working Group on the Prosecutors’ guidance to the Bribery Act and the Prosecutor’s Forum at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
He said his SFO experience helps him counsel clients on what the government expects in anti-corruption investigations.
Eric Carlson, partner at Covington & Burling LLP
In 2010, Covington welcomed back alumni James Garland, former Justice Department Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor to Attorney General Eric Holder; and Steve Fagell, Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor to Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer.
Fagell is co-chair of the anti-corruption practice, along with Donald Ridings and John Rupp.
“The promotions of Robert Amaee and Eric Carlson reflect Covington’s strategic commitment to providing clients with sophisticated advice in real-time across the US, Europe, and Asia,” Fagell said in an email.
Carlson said Asia, and China in particular, is a large driver of business growth. Significant risks come with business opportunities, he said, and clients are looking for expert help to navigate the complex legal landscape.
Covington’s global growth includes new offices announced in Shanghai and Seoul.
