Risk is an unavoidable part of running a professional practice. We help our accountancy clients to navigate the myriad obligations and regulations that they face on a daily basis and partner with them to understand their unique risk profile and create bespoke risk management solutions. Should a claim or investigation arise, we can be relied upon to manage it swiftly and sensitively so that our clients can continue to focus on growing their business.

From new products outpacing old regulations to heightened agency enforcement or litigation, the consumer financial services sector faces an evolving legal environment. These challenges require a holistic perspective attuned to regulatory shifts, industry trends and business realities.

Reed Smith’s Consumer Finance team brings a well-rounded and tailored approach to each client transaction, product launch, and agency probe or dispute. We have deep experience advising clients on matters involving key regulators ranging from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission to the prudential bank regulators and state agency authorities. Our outcome-focused approach coupled with our regulatory acumen allows us to relentlessly execute client objectives and minimize business disruptions as we go.

One of the most powerful tools used by the federal and state governments to identify fraud and recover overpayments in government programs is the federal False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. section 3729 et seq. (“FCA”), and corollary state false claims acts. We are experienced in responding to Inspector General (“IG”), Assistant United States Attorney (“AUSA”) and Department of Justice (“DOJ”) Civil Investigative Demands; subpoenas; successfully resolving FCA investigations; and defending clients in FCA actions and qui tam litigation filed by FCA relators and the DOJ. Our FCA and qui tam experience includes:

• Providing compliance and related guidance to minimize potential exposure
• Negotiating Corporate Integrity Agreements/Certification of Compliance Agreements
• Conducting internal investigations of potential compliance issues and preparing voluntary or mandatory disclosures
• Utilizing extensive in-house document collection and production capabilities to economically respond to subpoenas and document requests

Regulatory change continues to dominate the landscape of financial market participants, operators and consumers. Government investment in regulatory enforcement has significantly increased, thus the cooperation and collaboration between government authorities and regulators within the world’s main financial centres is leading to large scale multi-jurisdictional investigations and enforcement actions. If you haven’t been already, you and your business’ financial bottom-line are likely to be impacted by these regulatory regimes.

As a fund manager, you likely face an array of different, and often competing, global regulations. Reed Smith’s fund management regulatory team has vast experience advising fund managers on a wide range of regulatory matters that affect the industry, including registrations, regulatory filings and disclosures, management policies and procedures, conflicts, examination, and enforcement on a global basis.

Fund managers of all sizes face a growing array of different, and often competing, global regulations. The compliance burden for investment managers and their private fund clients, in particular, has increased substantially and will continue to grow going forward. Accordingly, CCOs and general counsels for fund managers face an ever-growing workload to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Companies dealing with government customers and/or federal funding are faced with a unique set of compliance and regulatory challenges. Our team can guide you through all the stages of the procurement and grant process: from pre-solicitation notice, to solicitation, pre- or post- award protest, to contract and grant award, through administration (including compliance, to close-out).

When laws are crafted and governments find solutions to problems, you can be on the outside looking in, or you can have a voice in the process when those policies are crafted or problems are solved. Our lawyers are authorities in the policy-making process. We have experience crafting policies from within the government and, as such, we provide you with innovative and comprehensive solutions for legislative and regulatory issues at both the state and federal level.

Our administrative law and legislative practice combines legal acumen, political judgment, and decades of experience to offer you sophisticated capabilities in formulating, articulating, and executing your public policy strategies.

Allegations of fraud and abuse can instantly threaten your business and destroy the good will you’ve taken years to build. Our team helps structure operations to prevent violations and avoid perceived violations.

We, at Reed Smith, advise virtually every type of health care entity on federal and state anti-kickback laws; physician self-referral restrictions, including the “Stark Law’s” prohibitions and exceptions; restrictions on beneficiary inducements; the federal False Claims Act; and other civil and criminal laws.

Our coordinated team seamlessly conducts legal audits of existing contracts and operations, and develops tailored, comprehensive compliance programs. We can also provide you with counsel regarding regulatory and legislative developments and regularly submit requests for advisory opinions from federal regulators.

Companies seeking to expand markets and strengthen distribution and supply chains must navigate complex regulatory requirements around the world. As you export products or technology, source goods in foreign markets, provide services internationally, or transact business in international commerce – we can help you to reach pragmatic, real-world solutions to the varying legal and compliance challenges of operating an international business.

As a life sciences company, you are faced with the daily challenges associated with operating in a highly-regulated industry, where the laws and guidelines are constantly shifting, and, in our  increasingly global marketplace, are sometimes even at odds with one another.

Our lawyers can advise you on securities and financial markets regulation, and represent you in related litigation – enforcement actions, securities and derivatives litigation, and board or audit committee-conducted internal investigations. Further, our lawyers focused in financial regulatory work can help you navigate financial disclosure and reporting issues, corporate governance, securities, and commodity and derivatives issues. In each instance, our experience allows us to develop a strategy that accomplishes your goals efficiently and effectively.