The rapid spread of the coronavirus around the world during the past year has disrupted businesses globally in all industries, including aerospace and defense. The pandemic also has made it more difficult for anti-corruption compliance programs to operate effectively because of interruptions to travel and transportation around the globe; the inability to conduct in-person interviews, meetings, audits and training; and the widespread disruption of commercial operations and relationships. 

The disruption and difficulty caused by the global health crisis have presented unique challenges for companies in the A&D industry because of the importance of international sales and global supply chains and the heavy reliance on third parties, including sales representatives, consultants, offset brokers, joint venture partners, teammates, and various other service providers, in conducting their global business. The uncertainty and pressure on defense budgets and sales during the past year also have increased the risk of employees being tempted to cut corners to meet sales targets tied to their compensation or continued employment and have increased pressure on companies to reduce their compliance budgets or focus in an effort to maximize profits or even to survive the global economic downturn. 

Our program will feature a discussion of practical steps that four leading global A&D companies have taken to maintain their anti-corruption law compliance programs during the past year and lessons they have learned to help ensure that their compliance programs continue to operate effectively at a high level. Our panel will include: 

• Fausto Di Fant, Subsidiaries Business Compliance Officer for Leonardo S.p.A. 

• Brooke Horiuchi, Corporate Counsel-Global Compliance Program for Northrop Grumman Corporation 

• Jeremy Levin, Assistant General Counsel, International Compliance for BAE Systems, Inc. 

• James Needham, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Global Ethics and Compliance for Raytheon Technologies

Howard Weissman of our Washington, D.C. office will moderate the discussion.