DOJ Pressure to Cut Loose Employees Under Investigation

Two months ago, the American Bar Association House of Delegates adopted a 'recommendation' stating opposition to prosecutors' and other enforcement officials' taking into consideration 'any of the following factors in making a determination of whether an organization has been cooperative in the context of a government investigation: 1) that the organization provided counsel to, or advanced, reimbursed or indemnified the legal fees and expenses of, an Employee; 2) that the organization entered into or continues to operate under a joint defense, information sharing and common interest agreement with an Employee or other represented party with whom the organization believes it has a common interest in defending against the investigation; 3) that the organization shared its records or other historical information relating to the matter under investigation with an Employee; or 4) that the organization chose to retain or otherwise declined to sanction an Employee who exercised his or her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in response. This article discusses the recommendation and the events that led to it.

18 minute read October 30, 2006 at 08:27 AM
By
Richard M. Cooper
DOJ Pressure to Cut Loose Employees Under Investigation

Two months ago, the American Bar Association House of Delegates adopted a 'recommendation' stating opposition to prosecutors' and other enforcement officials' taking into consideration 'any of the following factors in making a determination of whether an organization has been cooperative in the context of a government investigation: 1) that the organization provided counsel to, or advanced, reimbursed or indemnified the legal fees and expenses of, an Employee; 2) that the organization entered into or continues to operate under a joint defense, information sharing and common interest agreement with an Employee or other represented party with whom the organization believes it has a common interest in defending against the investigation; 3) that the organization shared its records or other historical information relating to the matter under investigation with an Employee; or 4) that the organization chose to retain or otherwise declined to sanction an Employee who exercised his or her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in response to a government request for an interview, testimony, or other information.'

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