Rahman Ravelli to host Multilateral Development Bank Investigations Webinar

Webinar: Multilateral Development Banks – Their Investigations, Powers and Penalties

Date: 09 September 2020
Time: 10am EST | 3pm BST | 6pm GST 
Panel:
Syedur Rahman, Legal Director, Rahman Ravelli
Barry Vitou, Partner, Greenberg Traurig
Ian Hargreaves, Partner, Covington & Burling
Christopher Kim, Senior Managing Director, Guidepost Solutions (USA)
Alex Haines, Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers

Rahman Ravelli is hosting a webinar that looks at all the important aspects surrounding multilateral development banks (MDBs) and their investigatory powers.

The webinar, titled “Multilateral Development Banks – Their Investigations, Powers and Penalties’’ is being held in conjunction with ThoughtLeaders4 on September 9. Rahman Ravelli Partner Syedur Rahman will be speaking at the event.

With the World Bank and other MDBs financing major infrastructure projects in developing nations each year, private development firms, construction companies, consultants and other corporations and individuals can bid for MDB-funded contracts. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has seen MDBs plan to use a large proportion of their estimated $250 billion in spare lending capacity over the next 18 months.

But such huge amounts create a risk of fraud, corruption and other business crime. With MDBs unrestricted by national borders, having a wide range of investigatory powers and the ability to impose a variety of severe sanctions, they are able to scrutinise any possible suggestion of wrongdoing relating to MDB-funded contracts.

Syed will be speaking on issues relating to MDB investigations. He will be joined by senior investigations lawyers Barry Vitou (Partner, Greenberg Traurig), Ian Hargreaves (Partner, Covington & Burling) and Alex Haines (Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers) together with investigations, compliance and cybersecurity consultant Chris Kim (Guidepost Solutions), a former investigator at the World Bank.

The event will focus on how to prepare for an MDB investigation, as well as on the best way to respond to one and how to mount a defence.

It will assess:

• How MDB investigation offices are structured and conducted
• The trends in MDB investigations over the past decade
• What prompts MDB investigations - and the importance of whistleblowers
• Tips and best practices for companies
• Major cases and penalties
• The sanctions process and how companies can defend themselves
• Debarments, cross-debarment and monetary penalties
• The proactive, protective steps that companies can take
• MDB interaction with law enforcement – and its significance