The Ongoing Effects of COVID-19 Fraud

The legal world continues to navigate the lingering effects posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fraud related to relief efforts and financial aid programs remains a significant concern. The DOJ has been cracking down on investigations, and we’re seeing more and more settlements this year. Yesterday, August 13, DOJ reaffirmed its commitment to combating COVID-19 fraud, emphasizing the need for vigilance and public cooperation in detecting and reporting fraudulent activities. Businesses,...

Swiss-Based Commodities Trading Company Pays $661 Million for FCPA Violations

Last Friday (March 1), the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Swiss-based international commodities trading company Gunvor S.A. pleaded guilty and agreed to pay roughly $661 million to settle charges of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).  The DOJ's action stemmed from Gunvor's scheme to bribe Ecuadorean officials to secure business with Ecuador’s state-owned oil company Petroecuador. The FCPA bars payments to foreign officials for any kind of business...

FTC: Consumers Lost Over $10 Billion to Fraudsters in 2023

The Federal Trade Commission released its consumer-reported fraud data for 2023, showing consumer losses rocketed to a new high--over $10 billion, with nearly half of that being lost to investment scams. Deploying the usual targeting methods—email, phone calls, and text messages—fraudsters convinced consumers to dump their cash into fake investment opportunities ($4.6 billion) and imposter scams ($2.7 billion); online shopping fraud; prizes, sweepstakes, and lotteries; investment-related reports; and business and...

Constantine|Cannon Files Historic Antitrust Litigation Targeting Exploitation of Major Junior Hockey Players

Constantine|Cannon LLP, along with five other leading antitrust and labor law firms, filed a landmark antitrust case in New York federal court today, aimed at exposing what plaintiffs allege to be egregiously anticompetitive collusion that targets teenage players across North America. The class action lawsuit, which names as defendants the National Hockey League, the Canadian Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, the Western Hockey League, the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey...

Top FCPA Recoveries of 2023

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) bars payments to foreign officials for any kind of business advantage, such as securing government contracts or other kinds of favorable business treatment.  The statute covers any form of consideration including gifts, meals, travel, and entertainment.  It also imposes strict record-keeping and internal control requirements to prevent falsifying company books and records that might otherwise disguise foreign bribes. Enforcing the FCPA is a perennial...

October 12, 2023

The CFTC has awarded more than $18 million to a whistleblower.  According to the agency, the whistleblower’s detailed information and significant assistance led to enforcement actions by the CFTC as well as another agency.  CFTC

Constantine Cannon's Wyatt Fore Honored in a Category for the 2023 Antitrust Enforcement Awards by the American Antitrust Institute

Constantine Cannon is pleased to announce that the American Antitrust Institute has honored Wyatt Fore for its 2023 Antitrust Enforcement Awards in the category of “Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement by a Young Lawyer.”  AAI’s Antitrust Enforcement Awards recognize leading practitioners and economists, and recipients will be honored at the AAI Awards Night on November 2, following AAI’s Annual Private Enforcement Conference. This award recognizes Wyatt’s role on the case team...

Constantine Cannon's Ethan Litwin Recognized as One of the Top 500 Litigators in America by Lawdragon

Constantine Cannon is pleased to announce that Ethan Litwin has again been named as one of the Top 500 litigators in America by Lawdragon in its “2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America” list. According to Lawdragon, this annual list recognizes top attorneys who represent corporations in cases involving, among other areas, antitrust, financial and securities litigation, intellectual property, and commercial real estate. Mr. Litwin is a partner in the...

September 27, 2023

The CFTC has awarded more than $300,000 to a whistleblower whose tip led to an investigation and whose aid led to a successful enforcement action. The whistleblower’s information was described as particularly informative and precise, and helped save the agency substantial resources.  CFTC

September 19, 2023

Two whistleblowers who provided significant information and assistance to the CFTC has been awarded over $15 million for aiding in successful enforcement actions.  According to the agency, one whistleblower interpreted key evidence and helped identify new lines of inquiry, while the second whistleblower provided information that launched the investigation, provided a corroborating witness, and provided a declaration in support.  CFTC