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‘Ask the Expert’ about Ethics 1st: An Interview with Leading FCPA Attorney William Steinman

Anti-corruption expert William Steinman began his career in international law at a large law firm in Washington, DC in the 1990s. As part of his practice, Steinman advised clients on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a federal law that prohibits U.S. citizens and entities from bribing foreign government officials to benefit their business interests. At the time, the FCPA was rarely enforced, and not a high priority. One day, Steinman remembers, his boss came up to him and said, “I’m going to make you an FCPA lawyer because you think like a criminal.” Steinman’s conversation launched a career. He…