In response to Australia's newly enacted Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) Act 2024 (Cth), the demands on corporate compliance have intensified. To address these challenges, the Association of Corporate Counsel WA Division, in partnership with MinterEllison Perth Office, present a critical panel session: "Compliance Under Scrutiny: Adapting to Australia's Rigorous Foreign Bribery Reforms".
The session, facilitated by Mike Hales, Office Managing Partner of MinterEllison Perth Office, will feature expert insights from:
• Louise Seery, General Counsel, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation; and
• Mark Lewis, Head of Compliance, Woodside Energy Ltd
Our panel will explore the stringent requirements set forth by the new legislation, particularly focusing on the heightened scrutiny of corporate compliance programs and the pivotal role of 'adequate procedures' in safeguarding against liability. Key discussions will include the expanded scope of foreign bribery offences, the implications of absolute liability, and the absence of a deferred prosecution regime, all of which collectively raise the stakes for Australian and international businesses alike.
Attendees will gain actionable strategies to adapt their compliance frameworks to meet these rigorous new standards, ensuring they are well-prepared to mitigate the increased risks of prosecution under this transformative legal reform.
Agenda:
4:30 PM: Registration and Networking
4:45 PM: Panel Discussion Begins, facilitated by Mike Hales
5:30 PM: Q&A Session and Closing Remarks
5:45 PM: Networking Reception
This event is essential for in-house counsel, compliance professionals, and corporate leaders seeking to fortify their defences in response to Australia’s enhanced foreign bribery laws. We look forward to your participation in this timely and important discussion.
Louise Seery, General Counsel, Department of Jobs Tourism, Science and Innovation
Louise is an experienced in-house lawyer and the General Counsel at the Department of Jobs Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI).
Louise has over 20 years of experience as a lawyer, both in the private sector and in State and Commonwealth government agencies. She has held legal positions in Canberra, Sydney, Dublin and Perth. Her experience in Western Australia includes senior legal roles with the Department of Mines and Petroleum, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority and JTSI.
Louise advises on a wide range of legal matters, including commercial agreements, resources law, litigation, grants and financial assistance agreements, administrative law, employment and board matters. This spans across the agency and includes significant work for Tourism WA, JTSI’s international trade offices, Science and Innovation, Industry Development, Defence West and Resources and Project Facilitation. She also provides legal support to the Risk and Governance and Procurement areas of the agency and is a member of the JTSI Audit and Risk Committee.
Mark Lewis, Head of Compliance Legal, Woodside Energy Ltd
Mark is Head of Compliance Legal at Woodside Energy Ltd, where he is responsible for co-managing Woodside’s ABC compliance program and overseeing the provision of ABC legal advice across Woodside’s international business. Prior to that, he was a Director of Enforcement at the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission and also worked in private practice in the area of competition and regulatory investigations and disputes.
Moderator: Mike Hales, Office Managing Partner, MinterEllison
I have more than 25 years' experience to bring to my client's benefit, both in the UK and Australia. I represent industry-leading clients in the energy and resources, property and construction sectors. Much of my work has been international, in courts and arbitrations.
I view disputes as business problems with legal aspects – if the commercial aspects can be resolved, the legal issues tend to follow. It is crucial to direct resources at the issues that truly matter.
I have regularly acted as an advocate and mediator. I enjoy devising time- and cost-effective ways to resolve disputes and thinking laterally to overcome issues.
I recognise the importance of our pro bono work. My pro bono work includes conducting prosecutions for the RSPCA in Western Australia, acting for the Western Australian Men’s Shed Association and the administrators of an Aboriginal corporation, all on a pro bono basis.
*Competitor Exclusion – ACC Australia Partner’s may request that representative/s of a competitor organisation/s registered for the event be excluded, and ACC Australia reserves the right to make the final decision as to whether a registration is rejected. As a guide, a competitor organisation could be defined as a rival organisation of similar size to the host Corporate Partner, with an established practice, product or service in the area being showcased by the Corporate Partner’s at the event. Please provide a brief statement as to why you have deemed an organisation to be a competitor, in support of any request to ACC Australia to reject a registration.
