This is the sixth issue of WilmerHale's 10-in-10 Hot
Topics in Energy Series. Over the course of 10 weeks, our attorneys
will share insights on current and emerging issues affecting the US
energy sector. Attorneys from across various practice groups at the
firm will offer their take on issues ranging from congressional
investigations, to the impact of key regulatory reforms, to
emerging trends in domestic litigation and international
arbitration.
Read our other recent publications.
The year 2018 marked a year of active Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act ("FCPA") enforcement, with a significant focus on the
energy sector.1 Monetary penalties and individual
prosecutions both rose in 2018, driven predominantly by the US
government's focus on combatting corruption at some of Latin
America's most prominent energy companies. The total monetary
penalties imposed on corporations for FCPA-related conduct rose
from $1.9 billion in 2017 to $2.9 billion in 2018, due in no
