Very interesting report from Reuters this morning. We learn from the report that two specialist firms have opened Hong Kong offices this month, transferring top executives from London and Washington.
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Here's the link and introduction to the article
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/14/uk-asia-anticorruption-idUSLNE82D00V20120314
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Industry experts say more will follow, as demand grows for people with the skills to guide companies through doing business in Asia amid a rapid rise in the number of corruption prosecutions.
The work itself is not new -- investigations firm Control Risks has been in the region since the 1980s -- but the uptick in demand for it is.
"Undoubtedly the biggest driving factor is the increase in anti-corruption legislation and the heavy penalties that are imposed if those rules are breached," said Rebecca Palser, who moved from London to head Risk Advisory's Hong Kong office, which opened this month.
Robert Boyd, who heads the Southeast Asia practice for Control Risks, said work at his firm, which helps clients deal with fraud, extortion and security threats, had "outpaced even the stellar GDP growth and foreign direct investments numbers" in Asia.
Services offered by the growing number of investigative or intelligence firms in Asia include role-play training sessions on how to respond when asked for a bribe, and consultancy on how to negotiate with a kidnapper. They also help clients carry out background checks on people and companies.
Investigative outfit Nardello & Co, founded by former U.S. federal prosecutor Daniel Nardello, also opened its first Asian office in Hong Kong in March.
Nardello's outfit, whose clients include FTSE 100 and Fortune 100 companies, said the greater efforts U.S. authorities are making to enforce anti-bribery law the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act FCPA.L, are bringing clients to its door.
... Read rest of article at link above
