[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":304},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-international-academy-of-financial-crime-litigators-leading-the-way-in-financial-crime-litigation-practices-and-research-394":3,"news-international-academy-of-financial-crime-litigators-leading-the-way-in-financial-crime-litigation-practices-and-research-394-similar":44,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":299},[4],{"id":5,"status":6,"date_created":7,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"date":12,"topic":13,"slug":15,"activity":16,"nid":21,"topics":22,"activities":23,"programme":24,"area":24,"websites":25,"language":24,"image":27,"translation_of":24,"countries":38,"tags":39,"authors":40,"images":41,"translations":42,"content":43},9908,"published","2022-05-26T22:57:20.000Z","2025-08-31T23:14:59.000Z","International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators: Leading the way in financial crime litigation practices and research","News","The Basel Institute on Governance is delighted to host the [International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002F). \n\nThe Academy was created this year by Stéphane Bonifassi of Bonifassi Avocats (Paris), Lincoln Caylor of Bennett Jones (Toronto) and Elizabeth Ortega of ECO Strategic Communications (Miami).\n\nThe Academy unites the world’s top academic and litigation professionals to form an independent centre of excellence. Through collaboration and innovation, they seek to sharpen litigation skills and share research, experience and global best practices in cases of asset recovery and white-collar crime.\n\n_“We are delighted to host the Academy. Litigators are important partners to the Basel Institute’s asset recovery practice. We need experienced lawyers who can represent our partner countries in foreign courts, for example, in actions taken against financial intermediaries,”_ says Gretta Fenner, Managing Director of the Basel Institute on Governance.\n\nMark Pieth, President of the Basel Institute and Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Basel, explains: _“The Academy gives important impetus to advancing the practice of financial crime litigation. Our legal practice in this field needs to constantly adapt and be creative. By bringing together members from the highest levels of the profession, we are able to explore legal boundaries and high-stakes issues around asset recovery and financial crime.”_\n\nMembers are handpicked for their extensive experience in financial crime litigation or research around corruption and other economic crimes. They have already met twice this year, in May for the inaugural meeting in Basel and in November in New York. \n\nNews, research and opinion articles from the leading voices in financial crime litigation will appear on The Academy’s website, [www.financialcrimelitigators.org](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002F).","2018-12-17",[14],"","international-academy-of-financial-crime-litigators-leading-the-way-in-financial-crime-litigation-practices-and-research-394",[17,18,19,20],"Events","Partnerships","International cooperation","Media releases",394,[],[17,18,19,20],null,[26],"Main page",{"id":28,"storage":29,"filename_disk":30,"filename_download":31,"title":9,"type":32,"created_on":33,"modified_on":33,"charset":24,"filesize":34,"width":35,"height":36,"duration":24,"embed":24,"description":24,"location":24,"tags":24,"metadata":37,"focal_point_x":24,"focal_point_y":24,"tus_id":24,"tus_data":24,"uploaded_on":33},"d7eca525-b999-4c0b-bea9-7333bd56922f","local","d7eca525-b999-4c0b-bea9-7333bd56922f.webp","tmp.webp","image\u002Fwebp","2025-05-12T21:23:16.000Z",39346,1400,809,{},[],[],[],[],[],[],[45,74,96,138,163,188,210,249,271],{"id":46,"body":47,"status":6,"type":48,"date":49,"slug":50,"title":51,"image":52,"countries":53,"topic":54,"activity":57,"tags":59,"nid":60,"topics":61,"activities":62,"authors":63,"images":65,"websites":66,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":24,"translations":67,"translation_of":24,"user_created":68,"date_created":69,"user_updated":70,"date_updated":71,"content":72,"link":73},9719,"Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is in the global spotlight thanks to its alleged role in triggering the coronavirus pandemic. It is sparking vivid debate among communities of experts not just in conservation, but in business, finance, technology, anti-corruption forces and law. \n\nOne such debate is taking place in the ranks of litigation service providers and economic crime experts of the [International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002F) and [IWT specialists at the Basel Institute on Governance](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fillegal-wildlife-trade). We have decided to publish a short series highlighting different expert perspectives on topics crucial to combating IWT.\n\nIn the article below, Dr. Timothy Wittig, Senior IWT Specialist at the Basel Institute on Governance, explores the impacts of IWT on business.\n\nRisks – but also opportunities\n==============================\n\nFive years ago, illegal wildlife trade (IWT) was not on the radar of most companies. Wildlife protection was viewed as just a conservation issue, something for charities to take care of. Now it’s on everyone’s lips.\n\nThe covid-19 pandemic, likely triggered by illegally traded wildlife, has [helped to propel the issue](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-04\u002FSpecial%20Analysis%20COVID19%20and%20IWT.pdf) into the global spotlight. Fortunately, companies in the transportation and financial sectors had already started to recognise their exposure to the risks of being abused by wildlife traffickers.\n\n### What risks?\n\nIWT exposes companies to a host of risks, not only those directly associated with wildlife and its protection. Why? Because it significantly converges with money laundering, financial crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking and threat finance, as well as climate change and humanitarian welfare issues. \n\nFor example, heroin trafficking networks in East Africa are known to also be heavily involved in the ivory and rhino horn trades. Illegal logging virtually always overlaps with high-level corruption and kleptocracy, and is itself an important driver of climate change. \n\nSo as IWT converges with all of these issues, corporate risk managers are now realising that they need to include IWT in their risk analysis and mitigation processes. Until now, frankly, IWT has been a big blind spot.\n\nThese vulnerabilities are now being recognised in international policy and regulatory circles.  The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), for example, has released [guidance](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.fatf-gafi.org\u002Fmedia\u002Ffatf\u002Fdocuments\u002FMoney-laundering-and-illegal-wildlife-trade.pdf) on tackling financial flows linked to IWT. The regulatory net is tightening.\n\nOn the business side of things, companies are under increasing pressure from investors and asset managers to mitigate risks related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. The pressure has increased with covid-19. Crucially, it includes ensuring integrity and sustainability throughout the company’s entire supply chain. Demonstrating that your company is not fuelling organised crime or contributing to habitat destruction – even down to raw material suppliers - is a big part of that.\n\n### Real opportunities\n\nPersonally, I find IWT an incredibly rewarding field to work in because there are real opportunities to make a meaningful positive difference in the world.\n\nOne of the best specific examples is the [United for Wildlife](https:\u002F\u002Funitedforwildlife.org\u002F) Transport and Financial Taskforces, a global initiative of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Taskforces aim to mobilise the private sector against wildlife trafficking using high-level formal commitments backed up by the sharing of actionable intelligence.\n\nThe Taskforces were founded four years ago with12 companies, but now have expanded to include over 150 global companies from the banking, money and financial services, maritime shipping, airline, express delivery, and port operations industries. Just formally convening such a group around an issue like IWT is a major accomplishment.\n\nMore importantly together these companies have made huge tangible impact against IWT. Starting from near zero, they are now able to identify and mitigate IWT-related risks internally, share and action intelligence on IWT, and more broadly make active contributions to law enforcement and government efforts to stop global wildlife trafficking.\n\nI have had the honour of working with the Taskforces since their inception as their head of intelligence and analysis. I can say from long experience that the secret to their success are all the unsung working-level heroes within these companies who have recognised the importance of IWT to their companies and to the world. Quietly and without fanfare, they have literally moved entire industries in a more sustainable direction.\n\nNow supported by the Basel Institute’s [IWT intelligence team](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fillegal-wildlife-trade), our job is to help these companies expand on this success. \n\n### Next up: tech firms and lawyers\n\nDespite impressive progress against IWT in the financial and transportation sectors, the clear outliers in private-sector action against illegal wildlife trade are the big tech monopolies. [Social media platforms](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dw.com\u002Fen\u002Fillegal-wildlife-trade-thrives-on-facebook-internet-forums\u002Fa-50141184) act as a huge and largely unregulated online marketplace for illegal wildlife trade – [even more so now](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-04\u002FSpecial%20Analysis%20COVID19%20and%20IWT.pdf) that physical movement is restricted by pandemic lockdowns. Who will tighten the net here?\n\nPerhaps lawyers can. General counsel offices of our partner companies in the Financial and Transport Taskforces are leading the way in using IWT intelligence as an opportunity to strengthen corporate risk management systems as well as to [communicate](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sc.com\u002Fen\u002Ffeature\u002Ftitle-tbc-2\u002F) overall sustainability principles.\n\nLooking forward, private law firms can help their clients understand and manage the risks to their business posed by environmental crime.\n\nAnd law professors can include illegal wildlife trade on academic curriculums – safe in the knowledge that this is an issue that, for companies at least, is only going to get more important.\n\n_To view the alternative perspective on this topic by Antenor Madruga, Partner at FeldensMadruga and Fellow of the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators, see [The Academy's website](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002Fnode\u002F152) or [download the PDF](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-06\u002FIWTperspectives1.pdf)._","Blog","2020-06-23","impacts-of-illegal-wildlife-trade-on-business-risks-but-also-opportunities-1783","Impacts of illegal wildlife trade on business – risks, but also opportunities","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F36f18dc5-e7a4-4d22-b7dd-5dc6dc6d9ee8?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[55,56],"Private Sector","Green Corruption",[58],"Insights",[],1783,[55,56],[58],[64],1227,[],[26],[],"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","2022-05-26T22:54:45.000Z","b0662e2a-864d-4888-a1b7-4342b7570b30","2025-08-31T23:14:40.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fimpacts-of-illegal-wildlife-trade-on-business-risks-but-also-opportunities-1783",{"id":75,"body":76,"status":6,"type":48,"date":77,"slug":78,"title":79,"image":80,"countries":81,"topic":82,"activity":83,"tags":84,"nid":85,"topics":86,"activities":87,"authors":88,"images":89,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":90,"translations":91,"translation_of":24,"user_created":68,"date_created":92,"user_updated":70,"date_updated":93,"content":94,"link":95},10609,"To mark International Women’s Day 2026, the Basel Institute on Governance and the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators hosted an online discussion on women’s leadership in the fight against corruption and financial crime.\n\nModerated by [Elizabeth Andersen](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fpeople\u002Felizabeth-andersen), Executive Director of the Basel Institute, the event brought together practitioners, academics and students to reflect on career journeys, challenges and opportunities in this complex and evolving field.\n\nSpeakers shared personal experiences of entering and advancing in anti-corruption and financial crime work, highlighting the diverse motivations that drive professionals in this area.\n\n### Different paths, a shared commitment\n\nFor Verónica Sabella, the link between financial crime and human rights violations was a key motivator in her decision to launch a career in law and to join the Basel Institute’s Certificate of Advanced Studies course in [Combating Financial Crime Through Asset Recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fcas-asset-recovery) with the University of Basel. She underscored the importance of understanding financial flows to address crimes such as trafficking\n\nEmmanuela OkonkwoAbutu, who will shortly complete the Basel Institute’s CAS programme [Mastering Today’s Anti-Corruption Challenges](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fcas-anti-corruption), described how witnessing the impact of corruption in Nigeria shaped her commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability and international cooperation. She hopes with her new qualification she will be better able to address the “international networks, legal loopholes and institutional weaknesses” that enable corruption.\n\n[Anne-Claude Scheidegger](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fpeople\u002Fanne-claude-scheidegger) highlighted the role of hands-on, scenario-based [training programmes](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery\u002Ftraining-programmes) in building investigative and asset recovery skills worldwide. She explained how the Basel Institute works with partner agencies to ensure that women have equal access to training opportunities.\n\nProfessor Karen Woody reflected on the importance of professional networks and interdisciplinary collaboration. She emphasised how communities of practitioners and scholars – in particular the [International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators](https:\u002F\u002Ffinancialcrimelitigators.org\u002F) – help connect different perspectives and sustain long-term professional growth.\n\nElizabeth Ortega highlighted the importance of investing in people – through training, mentorship and professional support – noting that many women reach leadership positions because someone believed in their potential and helped open opportunities along the way.\n\nThe discussion also explored structural barriers women may face in the profession, including persistent gender imbalances in leadership roles and the need to balance career progression with family responsibilities. At the same time, participants noted encouraging trends, including growing numbers of women entering the field and increased efforts to promote gender representation in training and professional development programmes.\n\nThroughout the conversation, speakers emphasised the importance of mentorship, peer learning networks and specialised training in opening career pathways. Particular attention was given to the value of professional communities, which create space for practitioners and experts from different backgrounds and jurisdictions to share knowledge, build connections and support one another’s growth.\n\nA central theme was the importance of targeted support mechanisms – including scholarships and sponsorships – that expand access to high-quality education and professional opportunities. Initiatives such as the [Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fscholarship) aim to ensure that talented professionals around the world can develop the skills, confidence and networks needed to lead the global fight against corruption and financial crime.\n\n### Key takeaways\n\n*   Countering financial crime is closely linked to protecting human rights. Understanding how illicit financial flows move through systems is essential to tackling crimes such as human trafficking, corruption and organised crime, which have a strong negative impact on the whole of society.\n*   Women are increasingly entering the field but leadership gaps remain. While many women work in lower-level compliance and investigative roles, structural and cultural barriers can still slow progress into senior leadership positions.\n*   Mentorship and sponsorship help open doors. Speakers stressed the importance of asking for help, building relationships and having others actively support your growth and advancement.\n*   Peer learning networks add lasting value, especially across borders. Communities such as the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators connect practitioners, academics and specialists across jurisdictions, enabling knowledge exchange and strengthening careers over time.\n*   Education and specialised training accelerate impact. Programmes such as the Basel Institute’s [Certificate of Advanced Studies](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study) courses on anti-corruption and asset recovery help practitioners deepen technical skills, understand global frameworks and collaborate internationally.\n*   Scholarships and targeted support expand access to opportunity. Initiatives such as the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund show how sponsorship and financial support for employees can help talented professionals access high-quality training and increase their impact in the fight against corruption and financial crime.\n\n### Help open the door to future leaders\n\nThis year’s International Women’s Day theme was “Give to Gain”. The slogan encapsulates many of the points the speakers made about the value of supporting others in their careers.\n\nThe International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators and its Co-Founders Elizabeth Ortega (ECO Strategic Communications), Stéphane Bonifassi (Bonifassi Avocats) and Lincoln Caylor (Bennett Jones) were the first donors to the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund.\n\nThe Basel Institute is grateful for their support and that of subsequent donors.\n\nIf this discussion resonated with you, consider helping open the next door for future leaders.\n\nContributions of any size help expand access to high-quality education and strengthen the global fight against corruption and financial crime.\n\nTo support the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund with a donation of any size, please visit our [crowdfunding page](https:\u002F\u002Fwhydonate.com\u002Ffundraising\u002Fgretta-fenner-scholarship-fund).","2026-03-11","women-leading-the-fight-against-financial-crime-how-education-mentorship-and-networks-expand-impact-2943","Women leading the fight against financial crime: how education, mentorship and networks expand impact","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F121ca068-13ee-4ee1-bcff-de793b77b915?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[17,58],[],2943,[],[17,58],[],[],"English",[],"2026-04-15T22:45:20.000Z","2026-05-08T21:36:28.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fwomen-leading-the-fight-against-financial-crime-how-education-mentorship-and-networks-expand-impact-2943",{"id":97,"body":98,"status":6,"type":48,"date":99,"slug":100,"title":101,"image":102,"countries":103,"topic":104,"activity":105,"tags":106,"nid":127,"topics":128,"activities":129,"authors":130,"images":132,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":90,"translations":133,"translation_of":24,"user_created":68,"date_created":134,"user_updated":68,"date_updated":135,"content":136,"link":137},10580,"_Corruption corrodes trust, weakens institutions, and undermines societies. Few people understand this better than our Executive Director Elizabeth Andersen. With more than two decades of experience advancing the rule of law around the world, Betsy brings a wealth of insight into why corruption matters and how to confront it._\n\n_In the fifth issue of the Bulletin of the [International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators](https:\u002F\u002Ffinancialcrimelitigators.org\u002F), Betsy is in conversation with the Bulletin’s co-editor Dr Maria Nizzero. She discusses what drew her to the Basel Institute, the challenges of sustaining anti-corruption momentum in a turbulent geopolitical climate, and why, despite the setbacks, she remains deeply optimistic about the fight ahead._\n\n_The interview is republished here with permission from the Academy._\n\n### Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself and what drew you to the Basel Institute on Governance?\n\nElizabeth Andersen: I’ve spent more than 20 years working to strengthen the rule of law globally, and one of the most pressing challenges we face is corruption. It undermines institutions, harms societies and erodes trust in government. The Basel Institute’s reputation for impact made it a compelling place to continue this work.\n\nWhat especially attracted me is its model: combining hands-on technical assistance with research and policy engagement. I was particularly drawn to the way in which the Basel Institute transforms lessons learnt from their very impactful technical assistance and case-based assistance on the ground into policy recommendations.\n\nThese recommendations contribute to global conversations and policymaking that can in turn deliver systemic change. This virtuous cycle of on-the-groundwork, learning and policy engagement was really very attractive to me as a terrific model.\n\n### You previously led the World Justice Project. What lessons are you bringing to Basel?\n\nEA: Both organisations share a commitment to data-driven, evidence-based solutions. At the World Justice Project, I saw how indices can be powerful diagnostic tools and motivators for change, as countries or jurisdictions work to strengthen their scores. They open the door for really important conversations on the path forward for change.\n\nI intend to carry this work forward to the Basel Institute, as I believe the [Basel AML Index](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fbasel-aml-index) – our flagship tool for assessing risks of money laundering and related financial crimes at the country level – has the potential to achieve even more than what it is already doing.\n\nAnother key point these organisations have in common is the value they place on multi-stakeholder approaches. The rule of law isn’t just for lawyers and judges: it requires governments, businesses and civil society to work together.\n\nAt the Basel Institute, one of the ways in which we’re advancing that vision is through [Collective Action initiatives](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002F). These bring together the private sector and other stakeholders – typically government and civil society – in sustained, collaborative efforts to overcome shared corruption challenges and raise standards of business integrity and fair competition. I look forward to building on the Basel Institute’s track record in convening such multi-stakeholder initiatives, so critical to combating corruption effectively.\n\n### From geopolitical shifts, to the threat of war, to tariffs, to climate change, with so many urgent global issues, how do you keep anti-corruption on the agenda?\n\nEA: This is something I have been thinking about a lot – in particular about the ways in which we need to frame, or reframe, the work that we do in terms of the policy priorities that prevail today. We have to link corruption to today’s top policy concerns, whether that’s defence spending, organised crime or the energy transition. There is an important corruption dimension to all of these contemporary priorities.\n\nBy highlighting that connection through research, we can make the case that anti-corruption work isn’t a distraction or unnecessary expense; it’s foundational and an investment in long-term success.\n\nIllicit financial flows are another critical issue. These are not victimless crimes, but ones that rob communities of resources. Especially at a time when development assistance is shrinking, asset recovery and international cooperation to return stolen funds are more urgent than ever. That has always been at the core of the Institute’s work, but it feels all more urgent now.\n\n### Some argue momentum on asset recovery is waning. Do you agree?\n\nEA: In fact, demand for our support in partner countries is growing. We have more demand than we can currently meet from governments asking us to help them develop capacity to investigate, prosecute and recover assets.\n\nWe’re also seeing governments adopt stronger legal tools, such as non-conviction based forfeiture and improved anti-money laundering frameworks. And international cooperation mechanisms are maturing, which gives me confidence that progress is possible.\n\nThere may be some fatigue, but there is also a growing awareness that asset recovery is not only a strategy for recovering stolen assets and obtaining much needed resources; it also acts as a deterrent and signals that organised crime will not pay.\n\nWe also find a lot of promise in the work of the [International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC)](https:\u002F\u002Fnationalcrimeagency.gov.uk\u002Fwhat-we-do\u002Fcrime-threats\u002Fbribery-corruption-and-sanctions-evasion\u002Finternational-anti-corruption-centre), the ongoing [Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) Action Series](https:\u002F\u002Fstar.worldbank.org\u002Fblog\u002Fglobal-forum-asset-recovery-gfar-action-series) and the [GlobE Network](https:\u002F\u002Fglobenetwork.unodc.org\u002F) – the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities. This kind of international cooperation on anti-corruption and asset recovery is essential, and there are a lot of opportunities to enhance it through such initiatives.\n\nIn this context, UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy’s commitment to tackling illicit finance and the announcement of a summit next year on this topic are really important. The summit represents a great opportunity for financial centres in particular to re-energise and re-focus the fight against illicit finance.\n\n### How does the Basel Institute bridge the gap between international standards and local realities?\n\nEA: This is a really important question, and its answer is a legacy of Gretta Fenner, the Basel Institute’s Managing Director for many years who tragically passed away in 2024.\n\nI am proud to say that we never parachute in with a one-size-fits-all presentation. For example, each Basel Institute training on financial investigations and asset recovery is tailored to the local context – to reference the local laws, the local procedures, even the local evidence and context in which crime happens. And this training is typically followed up with mentoring by expert advisors who are often embedded directly with partner agencies in the country.\n\nThis high-touch approach is time intensive, but it’s the only way to ensure international standards translate into meaningful local practice, and this is something the Institute really excels in.\n\n### Funding challenges, especially rising from the new US administration’s decisions to cut USAID, have shaken civil society. How is the Basel Institute responding?\n\nEA: We’re incredibly fortunate to have a loyal group of donors who have sustained or even increased their support. We don’t take it for granted, however, so we’re also working to diversify funding, including by engaging the private sector. Many companies now recognise that good governance is essential to their bottom line.\n\nWe’ve also received generous support for education from individuals, such as scholarships for our new graduate-level anti-corruption and asset recovery courses with the University of Basel.\n\nInvesting in the next generation of leaders is something I’m particularly excited about. I really want to give a shout out to the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators, which has through the Academy itself and a couple of generous members committed to fund two scholarships for talented professionals who would otherwise not be able to attend the course.\n\n### Talking about the private sector, what role does the private sector play in fighting corruption?\n\nEA: It’s a critical role. We’ve promoted Collective Action for decades, helping to establish initiatives like the Wolfsberg Group and the Metals Technology Initiative. On our B20 Collective Action Hub – a leading free resource centre on this approach – we’ve documented over 300 such initiatives.\n\nThis growing dataset allows us to identify what works when engaging the private sector in fighting corruption. It allows us to push beyond rhetoric or box-ticking towards initiatives that have meaningful impact.\n\n### Despite setbacks, what keeps you hopeful?\n\nEA: Above all, the people. My colleagues at the Institute, many recruited by my predecessor Gretta Fenner, are extraordinarily talented and committed. Our partners around the world often take up this cause at personal risk, which is deeply inspiring.\n\nAnd then there are the broader networks drawn from government, businesses, civil society, the media and ordinary citizens, standing up against corruption. When you see that collective energy, it’s impossible not to feel optimistic.\n\n### Finally, what research is the Basel Institute prioritising next?\n\nEA: We’re looking closely at how to strengthen legal tools while safeguarding human rights, for example, with a comparative study of non-conviction based forfeiture laws. We’re also exploring mechanisms to help ensure fines from foreign bribery cases can be used to support anti-corruption initiatives, including in communities that have been harmed by corruption.\n\nBoth areas aim to make anti-corruption and asset recovery frameworks not only more effective, but also more just.\n\n_The Academy's Bulletin has been established to transmit the work of Academy Fellows, draw attention to matters of importance to the legal community and provide high-level analysis of cutting-edge issues in global financial crime investigations and litigation. The Basel Institute on Governance acts as Secretariat to the Academy._","2025-11-17","holding-the-line-betsy-andersen-on-corruption-and-hope-in-uncertain-times-the-academy-bulletin-2865","Holding the line: Betsy Andersen on corruption and hope in uncertain times (The Academy Bulletin)","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F8c0785bd-c7a9-425b-a6ec-af2181682a5e?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[58,18],[107,111,115,119,123],{"tags_id":108},{"id":109,"name":110},982,"Anti-corruption",{"tags_id":112},{"id":113,"name":114},843,"Asset recovery",{"tags_id":116},{"id":117,"name":118},909,"Collective Action",{"tags_id":120},{"id":121,"name":122},867,"Financial crime",{"tags_id":124},{"id":125,"name":126},1372,"Training",2865,[],[58,18],[131],1359,[],[],"2025-11-17T11:01:41.000Z","2025-11-17T11:01:42.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fholding-the-line-betsy-andersen-on-corruption-and-hope-in-uncertain-times-the-academy-bulletin-2865",{"id":139,"body":140,"status":6,"type":10,"date":141,"slug":142,"title":143,"image":144,"countries":145,"topic":146,"activity":148,"tags":149,"nid":150,"topics":151,"activities":153,"authors":154,"images":155,"websites":156,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":24,"translations":157,"translation_of":24,"user_created":68,"date_created":158,"user_updated":159,"date_updated":160,"content":161,"link":162},10479,"At a joint [webinar](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FXSFqICzBwaA) with the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators, leading legal experts from around the world explored the debates around the role of victims in negotiated settlements for economic crimes.\n\nThe discussion followed the publication of a [working paper](https:\u002F\u002Fedit.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F45749d95-ea55-4dec-af3e-64f46efcdb39.pdf) by Academy Fellows that looks at procedures for compensating victims in the context of non-conviction criminal case resolutions in six countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany and Switzerland.\n\nIn brief, plea deals, deferred prosecution agreements and other conviction-avoidance mechanisms can result in huge fines being paid to wealthy countries while victims look on – a jarring spectacle. Many ask: What's wrong with the system? What needs to be fixed?\n\nModerated by Jonathan Spicer, the discussion featured Stéphane Bonifassi (France), Prof. Wolfgang Spoerr (Germany), Prof. Karen Woody (USA) and Oscar Solórzano (Switzerland and Latin America). Lincoln Caylor and Elizabeth Ortega made opening and closing remarks.\n\nThough such complex discussions are difficult to summarise, a few points arose that can help to shape debates going forward:\n\n### 1 Who are the victims?\n\nIdentifying the victim in cases involving negotiated settlements, particularly where corruption or bribery is involved, is not as simple as we may think. There may be a wide range of potential victims, from individuals or companies to sovereign states.\n\nSometimes criminal activity may be more defined by the harm that it causes to collective public interests like the environment than to people or corporate entities. \n\n### 2 What is their role and standing in criminal proceedings?\n\nThe role of victims within the criminal process varies between jurisdictions, but there is also a distinct difference of approach between legal traditions.\n\nIn common law jurisdictions, the victim has no standing within the criminal procedure and relies on the prosecutor to seek redress on their behalf.\n\nIn contrast, civil law jurisdictions do allow victims to be parties within criminal proceedings, at least in the trial phase. However, in the pre-trial phase, this typically involves more discretion of the prosecutors. \n\nVictims may not be invited to participate in these situations because they have not been properly identified. It may also be because the involvement of victims in already complex negotiations may stand in the way of obtaining an effective settlement. \n\n### 3 What would improve the situation?\n\nThe present position where victims do not have a seat at the table in negotiated settlement discussions is generating controversy and prosecutors and courts should take greater efforts to bring victims into the process.\n\nHowever, it is also important to recognise that victims retain the rights to bring claims in civil courts where their ability to seek redress may in certain circumstances be better served than in criminal proceedings and negotiated settlements. \n\nMore support for victims in participating in criminal proceedings and\u002For in identifying civil means for seeking redress in economic crime cases would be valuable. This is especially important in cases involving sovereign states, which may face hurdles in terms of legal and investigative skills, resources and the ability to cooperate internationally.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Read the paper: [The Role of Victims in Negotiated Settlements](https:\u002F\u002Fedit.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F45749d95-ea55-4dec-af3e-64f46efcdb39.pdf), by Stéphane Bonifassi, Lincoln Caylor, Grégoire Mangeat, Léon H. Moubayed, Jonathan S. Sack, Andrew Stafford KC, Wolfgang Spoerr and Thomas Weibel.\n*   See short [highlights](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=RejiOaCBdeI&list=PLMigxy20lxLbcmdDuU6mzo7PWlSNRqIID) in this playlist of clips.\n*   Watch the full [webinar recording](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FXSFqICzBwaA) on YouTube.\n*   Learn more about the [International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators](https:\u002F\u002Ffinancialcrimelitigators.org\u002F), for which the Basel Institute acts as Secretariat.","2024-08-30","probing-the-issue-of-victims-in-negotiated-settlements-for-white-collar-crimes-2672","Probing the issue of victims in negotiated settlements for white-collar crimes","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F803fb90a-fd61-45aa-a703-a9299bdf87d9?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[147],"Asset Recovery",[17,58,18],[],2672,[152],"Asset Recovery and Enforcement",[17,58,18],[],[],[26],[],"2024-08-30T16:01:35.000Z","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6","2026-05-29T22:22:32.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fprobing-the-issue-of-victims-in-negotiated-settlements-for-white-collar-crimes-2672",{"id":164,"body":165,"status":6,"type":48,"date":166,"slug":167,"title":168,"image":169,"countries":170,"topic":171,"activity":173,"tags":175,"nid":176,"topics":177,"activities":178,"authors":179,"images":181,"websites":182,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":24,"translations":183,"translation_of":24,"user_created":68,"date_created":184,"user_updated":159,"date_updated":185,"content":186,"link":187},9835,"The activities of the [International Centre for Asset Recovery](\u002Fnode\u002F25) (ICAR) in 2018 continued to have impact across all aspects of our core mission: to enable partner countries to investigate complex cases of corruption and money laundering, send criminals to jail and recover stolen assets stashed abroad.\n\nHowever, the amount of hard assets recovered – notably in 2018, the USD 16.5 million recovered with the assistance of our embedded experts in Peru – is just one part of a much wider picture. In line with our [Operational Strategy](\u002Fnode\u002F27) 2017–20 and the ICAR Theory of Change, we believe the lasting impact of ICAR’s work also lies in the softer assets gained along the way.\n\n### Building long-term capacity – the ripple effect\n\nThese softer assets include greater capacity among key anti-corruption officials and institutions, leading to stronger rule of law. In 2018, we trained over 500 officials in 10 countries on financial investigation and asset recovery, as well as new topics such as money laundering using Bitcoin. According to interviews in the context of our training impact assessment, participants have not only learned a lot but changed their practices at work as a result of our input. Staying in touch with them and supporting them with ad hoc advice is part and parcel of ensuring that training leads to sustainable results.\n\nA highlight of the year was our team of local ICAR-certified trainers in Tanzania, who have started rolling out our training programme to their colleagues across the country.\n\nSmoother inter-agency cooperation both domestically and internationally is another key goal of ICAR’s work, since complex financial crimes can only be tackled with a collective effort. Nearly half of the over 100 ongoing cases supported by ICAR experts advanced in 2018 thanks to inter-agency or international cooperation. This has already led to new initiatives to create inter-agency taskforces and international teams, which we will continue to support through 2019 and beyond.\n\n### Creating stronger systems for sustainable development\n\nA typical side effect of ICAR’s in-country case work – particularly where our experts are embedded in partner agencies working side by side with anti-corruption officials – is coming across procedural or policy gaps that make the lives of investigators and prosecutors difficult. When this leads to internal or government-wide reform, our practical insights can help ensure that policymaking is not just a copy-paste of international good practice but locally anchored and contextualised. \n\nOne example is Tanzania’s new international cooperation team within its Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau, set up during 2018 with ongoing advice and mentoring from ICAR experts to build on progress in intelligence-gathering from foreign jurisdictions.\n\nIn this way, we believe ICAR’s work in 2018 continues to impact our partner countries’ efforts far beyond recovering assets – as important as that is. It helps strengthen systems and leave a sustainable legacy to deter criminal activity, protect public funds and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.\n\n### A multidisciplinary approach to tackle complex financial crimes\n\nComplementing our law enforcement and asset recovery-focused assistance, our country programmes are increasingly asked to respond to a growing trend – and need – to become more multidisciplinary in fighting crime. This means more practically connecting asset recovery with countries’ broader anti-corruption and governance agendas.\n\nAn example of that is our programme of work in Malawi, which benefits from additional funding from the UK Department for International Development. The scope has now expanded to include support to the review of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, fresh engagements with the private sector and assistance with developing innovative research tools and corruption risk assessment strategies. Experts from the Basel Institute’s divisions for Collective Action, Compliance and Public Governance will join ICAR in driving this integrated, multi-faceted approach to combating corruption and building capacity to recover stolen assets.\n\n### Driving innovation in asset recovery techniques\n\nICAR’s flexibility and global network of experts, spanning former prosecutors, lawyers and financial investigators, has been instrumental in helping to introduce new and context-sensitive legislative and technical innovations to support our partner countries’ asset recovery efforts. 2018 saw the first successful use of plea bargaining in a high-profile case in Malawi, the introduction of a structured approach to unexplained wealth cases in Tanzania and the first use of international video evidence and intelligence from hawala transactions in Kenya. In Peru, ICAR experts have contributed significantly to the elaboration of improved non-conviction-based forfeiture legislation introduced in 2018.\n\nThis creative approach to maximising the potential of partner countries’ legislative systems aligns with research by the Basel Institute’s Public Governance team, which emphasises the importance of context in both understanding criminal behaviour and countering it.\n\n2018 at a glance\n----------------\n\n### General\n\n*   In Peru, participation in the recovery of USD 16.5 million in stolen assets from accounts in [Switzerland](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fswitzerland-return-usd-15-million-stolen-assets-peru-landmark-extrajudicial-agreement) and [Luxembourg](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fperuvian-judiciary-confiscates-luxembourg-account-montesinos-arms-dealer) belonging to individuals linked to former Peruvian presidential advisor Vladimiro Montesinos. Learn more about ICAR’s work out of our Peru country office in 2018.\n*   Technical assistance and strategic advice on over [100 ongoing cases](\u002Fnode\u002F224) in 10 partner countries.\n*   Introduction in our partner countries of new legal practices including plea bargaining, non-conviction-based forfeiture and prosecuting for unexplained wealth, setup of new dedicated teams on intelligence and international cooperation, and establishment of multi-disciplinary asset recovery offices.\n\n### Training and eLearning\n\n*   [Training](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery\u002Ftraining-programmes) of over 500 investigators, prosecutors and judges in Financial Investigation and Asset Recovery, Offshore Structures and Mutual Legal Assistance, Corruption in Infrastructure Projects and Procurement, Financial Interviewing Skills and a new course on Money Laundering using Bitcoin.\n*   Training programmes delivered in 10 countries: Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Peru, Romania, Serbia, Uganda and Ukraine.\n*   Supervision of training programmes delivered by [ICAR-certified local trainers](\u002Fnode\u002F90).\n*   Support to training initiatives led by partner organisations, including with Swiss law firm MME on [FinTech AML Compliance Training](\u002Fnode\u002F755), and with the [Romanian Journalism Development Network](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Ffinal-workshop-mapping-and-visualising-cross-border-crime) on financial investigation for journalists as well as public and private sector investigators.\n*   Blended learning concept applied in Namibia, with an on-site training workshop based on the [Operational Analysis eLearning course](\u002Fnode\u002F80).\n*   Continued partnership with the Egmont Group on developing [eLearning modules](\u002Fnode\u002F26) for Financial Intelligence Units.\n\n### Digital tools\n\n*   Publication of seventh edition of the [Basel AML Index](\u002Fnode\u002F229), an independent ranking that assesses countries’ risk exposure to money laundering, with a record 11,500+ visitors to the Index website in the month of release.\n*   Development of the [Basel Open Intelligence](\u002Fnode\u002F36) tool for financial investigation, ready for launch in 2019.\n\n### Global policy dialogue\n\n*   Continued dissemination of the [Guidelines for the Efficient Recovery of Stolen Assets](https:\u002F\u002Fguidelines.assetrecovery.org\u002F) together with the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs and StAR Initiative.\n*   Participation in the UNCAC Working Group on Asset Recovery and associated discussions in dedicated Expert Group Meetings on Corruption involving Vast Quantities of Assets.\n*   Support to the development of the Framework for the Return of Assets from Corruption and Crime ([FRACCK](\u002Fnode\u002F920)) agreement between Kenya, Jersey, Switzerland and the UK.\n*   Joint organisation of the 3rd [Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptocurrencies](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fglobal-conference-criminal-finances-cryptocurrencies-kicks-europol) with Europol and Interpol.\n*   Support to the development of innovative practices for financial crime litigation as part of our membership in (and Secretariat role for) the [International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002F).\n\n### Looking ahead – planned activities in 2019\n\n*   Seek to respond to demands for expanding institutional scope of ICAR in-country programmes to support a chain-linked approach to asset recovery.\n*   Continue to strengthen exchange of knowledge and practices among ICAR partner countries and beyond to promote continued innovation in asset recovery.\n*   Explore opportunities to use training programmes and case-based advice to strengthen inter-agency cooperation.\n*   Promote the dissemination of innovative legal practices from ICAR partner countries in international forums.\n\n### More info\n\nThis text appears in the Basel Institute's [Annual Report 2018](\u002Fnode\u002F959).\n\nFor a deeper discussion of the link between asset recovery and sustainable development, see the Basel Institute on Governance Working Paper 29: [Recovering assets in support of the SDGs – from soft to hard assets for development](\u002Fnode\u002F927).","2019-07-21","reflections-on-2018-international-centre-for-asset-recovery-952","Reflections on 2018: International Centre for Asset Recovery","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Ff4b6973a-a2ac-4de6-868e-91907e02b663?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[172,147],"Anti-Money Laundering",[174],"Reports",[],952,[172,152],[174],[180],1266,[],[26],[],"2022-05-26T22:56:22.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:58.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Freflections-on-2018-international-centre-for-asset-recovery-952",{"id":189,"body":190,"status":6,"type":10,"date":191,"slug":192,"title":193,"image":194,"countries":195,"topic":197,"activity":198,"tags":199,"nid":200,"topics":201,"activities":202,"authors":203,"images":204,"websites":205,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":24,"translations":206,"translation_of":24,"user_created":68,"date_created":207,"user_updated":70,"date_updated":71,"content":208,"link":209},9537,"The 5th Arbitration and Crime Workshop is set to take place in hybrid format on 7 May 2022 at the University of Basel, Switzerland. The focus will be on [US President Biden's anti-corruption initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.whitehouse.gov\u002Fbriefing-room\u002Fpresidential-actions\u002F2021\u002F06\u002F03\u002Fmemorandum-on-establishing-the-fight-against-corruption-as-a-core-united-states-national-security-interest\u002F) and recent challenges in the area of arbitration and crime.\n\nOrganised by the Arbitration and Crime Competence Centre, which is led by Professor Mark Pieth and Dr Kathrin Betz, the annual event brings together leading arbitrators, lawyers, academics and other experts from around the world.\n\nThe [Toolkit for Arbitrators,](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fcorruption-and-money-laundering-international-arbitration-toolkit-arbitrators) available in English, French and Russian, emerged from the 2019 meeting to guide arbitrators who suspect, or are confronted with, alleged corruption or money laundering in relation to the underlying dispute.\n\nThe draft agenda for the 2022 workshop currently includes:\n\n*   US President Joe Biden's initiative against corruption: The emerging new paradigm of bribery as a security issue (Chair: Krista Nadakavukaren Schefer, Swiss Institute of Comparative Law).\n    \n*   Arbitration in sports: How does sports arbitration deal with illegality? How can sanctions enacted by an arbitral tribunal interact with national procedures? (Chair: Nicola Bonucci, Paul Hastings LLP).\n    \n*   Ratification: What amounts to ratification of a tainted contract? Who can ratify and in what timeframe? What are the limits of ratification? (Chair: Lord Peter Goldsmith QC, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP).\n    \n*   Protection of third parties: Who is a third party that deserves protection? What happens to workers, subcontractors, financial operators who are involved in a project tainted by corruption? (Chair: Juan Fernández-Armesto, Armesto & Asociados).\n    \n*   Maritime arbitration: How does it protect human rights? (Chair: Nadia Darwazeh, Clyde & Co)\n    \n\nThe panel speakers include many well-known names in financial crime litigation and arbitration. For the latest agenda and speakers, see the [Arbitration and Crime Competence Centre website](https:\u002F\u002Farbcrime.org\u002Fworkshop2022).\n\nWe are delighted to co-host the event again this year with support from [The International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002F), several of whose Fellows are participating in workshop panels. It will kick off with an informal pre-workshop dinner on 6 May at Restaurant Krafft in Basel for those attending in person.\n\n### Registration – in person or virtually\n\nAttendance is free of charge both in person and virtually, but please note that physical spaces are limited due to foreseeable Covid-19 restrictions. You will require a Covid-19 certificate valid in Switzerland and will need to adhere to the health measures in place at the time, including those imposed by the University of Basel. Please sign up quickly as the organisers offer physical places on a first-come, first-served basis.\n\nFor full details and the email for in-person registration, please see the [latest agenda](https:\u002F\u002Farbcrime.org\u002Fworkshop2022) on the Arbitration and Crime Competence Centre website.\n\nVirtual participants will be able to join by Zoom for the workshop on 7 May. [Click here to register.](https:\u002F\u002Funibas.zoom.us\u002Fwebinar\u002Fregister\u002FWN_IJJuj9XgQ4ag8GBMSiQZsA)","2021-12-21","new-dates-arbitration-and-crime-workshop-moved-to-6-7-may-2022-2115","New dates: Arbitration and Crime Workshop moved to 6-7 May 2022","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F5c0abf4f-9fc5-475f-ac7b-76cff291c946?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[196],7274,[14],[17],[],2115,[],[17],[],[],[26],[],"2022-05-26T22:52:10.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fnew-dates-arbitration-and-crime-workshop-moved-to-6-7-may-2022-2115",{"id":211,"body":212,"status":6,"type":10,"date":213,"slug":214,"title":215,"image":216,"countries":217,"topic":218,"activity":219,"tags":221,"nid":238,"topics":239,"activities":240,"authors":241,"images":242,"websites":243,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":24,"translations":244,"translation_of":24,"user_created":68,"date_created":245,"user_updated":159,"date_updated":246,"content":247,"link":248},9516,"[_Versión en español aquí._](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fenriquecimiento-ilicito-libro-de-acceso-abierto-dedicado-las-leyes-sobre-enriquecimiento)\n\nWe are delighted to announce that our open-access book, [_Illicit Enrichment: A Guide to Laws Targeting Unexplained Wealth_](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fillicit-enrichment-guide-laws-targeting-unexplained-wealth) by Andrew Dornbierer is now available in [Spanish](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fenriquecimiento-ilicito-una-guia-sobre-las-leyes-que-abordan-los-activos-de).\n\nThe book explores the rapid growth of illicit enrichment (unexplained wealth) legislation around the world and its use to target corruption and recover illicitly obtained assets.\n\nLike the original English version, it is a peer-reviewed publication that is freely available to read, download and share at [illicitenrichment.baselgovernance.org](https:\u002F\u002Fillicitenrichment.baselgovernance.org\u002F).\n\n### Targeting unexplained wealth in the Spanish-speaking world\n\nMany Spanish-speaking countries have drafted and introduced illicit enrichment legislation to target corruption. These laws are particularly prevalent in South and Central America, where [25 countries](https:\u002F\u002Flearn.baselgovernance.org\u002Fmod\u002Fdata\u002Fview.php?id=2033) have already enacted some form of this type of law.\n\nWhile some countries have had success using these laws – such as Argentina and Mexico – other countries seem hesitant to consistently enforce these laws. Most of these countries have never actually used their laws at all.\n\nThis is a common problem throughout the world. Why? One reason is that there isn’t a significant amount of commentary and guidance regarding how these laws can be drafted, investigated, prosecuted and adjudicated.\n\n_Enriquecimiento ilícito: una guía sobre las leyes que abordan los activos de procedencia inexplicable_ will provide much-needed guidance to Spanish-speaking law enforcement agencies throughout the Americas region. It will also provide some foundational knowledge to practitioners regarding the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of these laws.\n\n### The challenge of translating concepts, laws and practice\n\nThis book was translated from English into Spanish by [Pantoglot, Ltda](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pantoglot.com\u002Fen\u002F). The translation was reviewed by Sandra Comesaña of [Hengeler Mueller](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hengeler.com\u002Fen), a leading international corporate and white-collar law firm based in Germany. Commenting on the experience, she said:\n\n> Andrew Dornbierer's and the Basel Institutes's work on _Illicit Enrichment_ is an important contribution to the international effort of detecting, sanctioning and eventually preventing corruption and other financial crimes by \"going after the money\". The book's practical guidance on asset recovery in more than 100 jurisdictions is an invaluable tool for practitioners from both the private and public sectors and academics alike that is now finally available in Spanish, facilitating ready access for individuals and institutions specifically from the Spanish and Latin American markets.\n> \n> Hengeler Mueller is grateful for having had the opportunity to contribute to the Spanish version. Hengeler Mueller regularly advises international clients in various matters involving complex questions of multi-jurisdictional asset recovery both on its own and together especially with the members of its Best Friends network of Europe's leading independent law firms.\n\nThe pro-bono support for the translation review was facilitated by [The Academy of Financial Crime Litigators](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002F), an independent, non-partisan global centre that shapes and advances financial crime litigation practices for the future.\n\n### About the book\n\nPublished in English by the Basel Institute on Governance in June 2021, _Illicit Enrichment_ by Senior Asset Recovery Specialist Andrew Dornbierer features:\n\n*   Extensive analysis of jurisprudence and cases from around the world\n*   Tables, flow charts and graphics explaining key concepts\n*   Discussion of common questions and challenges\n*   Contributions from practitioners around the world, including a discussion of the introduction and evolution of Peru’s criminal illicit enrichment offence by Dr. Alcides Chinchay, a Senior Prosecutor of the Peruvian Public Prosecutor’s Office.\n*   [Annex 1](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fcompilation-illicit-enrichment-legislation-and-other-relevant-legislation): A collection of laws from 103 jurisdictions, also as an online [database](https:\u002F\u002Flearn.baselgovernance.org\u002Fmod\u002Fdata\u002Fview.php?id=2033) (in English)\n*   [Annex II](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fproving-illicit-enrichment-using-financial-investigation-and-source-and-application): A step-by-step guide to financial investigations and source and application analyses to support illicit enrichment cases (in English)\n\n_Illicit Enrichment_ was developed and published by the Basel Institute on Governance through its [International Centre for Asset Recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery), with research support from the NYU School of Law.\n\n### Where to find it\n\nYou can find the online version in both languages at: [illicitenrichment.baselgovernance.org](https:\u002F\u002Fillicitenrichment.baselgovernance.org\u002F). Re-use and re-sharing are encouraged under a Creative Commons [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0](https:\u002F\u002Fcreativecommons.org\u002Flicenses\u002Fby-nc-nd\u002F4.0\u002F) licence.\n\nThe book is also available to [print at cost price from Amazon worldwide](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fenriquecimiento-ilicito-una-guia-sobre-las-leyes-que-abordan-los-activos-de).","2022-04-25","enriquecimiento-ilicito-open-access-book-on-illicit-enrichment-laws-now-available-in-spanish-2211","Enriquecimiento ilícito – open-access book on illicit enrichment laws now available in Spanish","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F7a0e3134-f2db-4187-9a8a-501a6fa2fd16?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[147],[220,20],"Research",[222,226,230,234],{"tags_id":223},{"id":224,"name":225},821,"Unexplained wealth",{"tags_id":227},{"id":228,"name":229},1215,"Illicit financial flows",{"tags_id":231},{"id":232,"name":233},973,"Corruption",{"tags_id":235},{"id":236,"name":237},1371,"Public governance",2211,[152],[220,20],[],[],[26],[],"2022-05-26T22:51:51.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:39.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fenriquecimiento-ilicito-open-access-book-on-illicit-enrichment-laws-now-available-in-spanish-2211",{"id":250,"body":251,"status":6,"type":48,"date":252,"slug":253,"title":254,"image":255,"countries":256,"topic":257,"activity":258,"tags":259,"nid":260,"topics":261,"activities":262,"authors":263,"images":264,"websites":265,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":24,"translations":266,"translation_of":24,"user_created":68,"date_created":267,"user_updated":159,"date_updated":268,"content":269,"link":270},9871,"The third meeting of the [International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002F) in Basel this March brought together some of the world’s top academic and litigation professionals in the field of financial crime.\n\nThe Academy was established in 2018 by [Stéphane Bonifassi](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fst%C3%A9phane-bonifassi\u002F) of Bonifassi Avocats (Paris), [Lincoln Caylor](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fcaylorlincoln\u002F) of Bennett Jones (Toronto) and [Elizabeth Ortega](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fecortega\u002F) of ECO Strategic Communications (Miami).\n\nHow and why did this high-level group come about? Elizabeth Ortega explains in this quick Q&A:\n\n### Why was it necessary to launch The Academy?\n\nThe Academy was founded in 2018 in direct response to the large number of financial crime matters being handled out of court and the clear need to unite litigation professionals with academic theorists. The Basel Institute on Governance is a crucial collaborator. The Academy’s mandate is to drive international cooperation in the interest of both the victim and the accused and to develop skills and best practices for application in this highly specialised field.\n\n### Who are its members?\n\nProfessionals at the top of their game. Membership is by invitation only, extended to litigation professionals with over 20 years of experience, to professors in relevant disciplines, and to advocates for one and all.\n\nWhy bring both sides, victims and the accused, to the table?\n\nThis is the best way to promote the open exchange of ideas and information. There’s an inherent, beneficial tension in differing opinions, applications and overall goals. This forum for discussion informs practitioners and academics as they wrestle intellectually to a draw: The Academy, where theory meets practice.\n\n### How does this vision unfold at meetings?\n\nAbout twice a year, we meet for a full day in a university setting. We want to absorb the full experience of collegiality and openness to learning, debating and honing opinions. For example, at our most recent meeting at the Basel Institute, [Professor Mark Pieth](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pieth.ch\u002F) stirred up interest by speaking on how to start cleaning \"dirty gold\". He listed findings from his extensive investigations in Peru together with analysis of compliance levels of major gold refineries and high-end jewellery retailers. \n\n[Litigator Fred Davis](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.debevoise.com\u002Ffrederickdavis) led a lively and interactive discussion on nations’ various professional rules that apply to lawyers conducting cross-border criminal investigations. He linked them to the ultimate impacts on investigations and defence. His probing questions inspired a discussion topic for our next meeting at New York University School of Law: Does a corporation have the right to defend itself? \n\n[Professor Bruce Zagaris](http:\u002F\u002Fbcr.tv\u002Fattorney\u002Fbruce-zagaris) spoke on the revival of the United States’ disclosure statute, Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), pertaining to lobbying regulation.\n\n[Gretta Fenner](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fpeople\u002Fgretta-fenner), Managing Director of the Basel Institute on Governance, said, “the discussions were really rich and enriching.”\n\nFenner’s sentiments sum up our hands-on classroom dynamic. We experienced sheer zeal inspired by presenters and delegates. The high level of critical thinking driven by discussion leaders brought out candid and provocative responses. All found it easy to engage.\n\n### Read more\n\nThe IAFCL website hosts recent [news and articles by Academy members](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002Fmembers-news) – happy reading.","2019-04-10","the-international-academy-of-financial-crime-litigators-qampa-with-co-founder-elizabeth-ortega-887","The International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators: Q&A with co-founder Elizabeth Ortega","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F9023e68e-9fb2-42c5-815c-71745ca14b97?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[172,147],[17,18,19],[],887,[172,152],[17,18,19],[],[],[26],[],"2022-05-26T22:56:53.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:01.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fthe-international-academy-of-financial-crime-litigators-qampa-with-co-founder-elizabeth-ortega-887",{"id":272,"body":273,"status":6,"type":10,"date":274,"slug":275,"title":276,"image":277,"countries":278,"topic":279,"activity":280,"tags":282,"nid":289,"topics":290,"activities":291,"authors":292,"images":293,"websites":294,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":24,"translations":295,"translation_of":24,"user_created":68,"date_created":296,"user_updated":70,"date_updated":8,"content":297,"link":298},9774,"Over 80 arbitrators, lawyers and experts from around the world gathered at the University of Basel on 10 January 2020 to tackle the thorny issues of corruption and money laundering in international arbitration.\n\nCorruption and money laundering affecting an underlying dispute are a considerable challenge for arbitrators and parties in investment and commercial arbitration. If corruption and\u002For money laundering is established, arbitrators need to decide about the legal consequences for the parties’ claims.\n\nThe high-level workshop, Legal Consequences of Corruption and Money Laundering in International Arbitration, covered several questions.\n\nIn investment arbitration:\n\n*   Corruption always takes two. Should a host state be held responsible for the corruption of its officials?\n*   Should a bribe at the beginning of an investment allow a state to successfully raise the corruption defence years later?\n*   Should the giving of a relatively small bribe result in the investor losing all protection under international dispute settlement mechanisms?\n*   What if a real dispute between parties involves the transfer of funds of illicit origin?\n\nIn commercial arbitration:\n\n*   What is a proportionate solution for contracts procured by bribery?\n*   What about restitution of the bribe?\n*   What is the practice of courts in France, UK, Switzerland etc. regarding enforcement of arbitral awards?\n*   What if the parties bring a fake dispute to arbitration in order to get an award that involves the transfer of funds of illicit origin?\n*   Should arbitrators and\u002For arbitral institutions have a duty (or a right) to report suspected money laundering?\n\n### About the workshop\n\nThe University’s Competence Centre for Arbitration and Crime organised the workshop as a follow-up to the 2019 [Toolkit for Arbitrators](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fcorruption-and-money-laundering-international-arbitration-toolkit-arbitrators) workshop and resulting publication. The Toolkit was mentioned several times as providing useful assistance to Tribunals when examining red flags.\n\nThe organisers wish to thank the event sponsors: [PWC](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pwc.ch\u002F), [BDO](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bdo.ch\u002Fen-gb\u002Fhome-en), [Bonifassi Avocats](https:\u002F\u002Fbonifassi-avocats.com\u002Fen\u002F), [Homburger](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.homburger.ch\u002F), [Vischer](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.vischer.com\u002Fen\u002F), and [Schellenberg Wittmer](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swlegal.ch\u002Fen\u002F). Partner organisations are the [University of Basel](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unibas.ch\u002Fen.html), [Basel Institute on Governance](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002F), [Swiss Institute of Comparative Law](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.isdc.ch\u002Fen\u002F) and [The International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002F).\n\nThe workshop was opened by [Mark Pieth](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pieth.ch\u002F), Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Basel and President of the Basel Institute on Governance. The keynote speech was given by [Alexis Mourre](https:\u002F\u002Fwhoswholegal.com\u002Falexis-mourre), President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   See the [Arbitration and Crime Competence Centre website](https:\u002F\u002Farbcrime.org\u002Fworkshop2020).\n*   Read the [opening remarks by Alexis Mourre](https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.web.host.ch\u002Fb8\u002F79\u002Fb879cd88-7475-4be6-828c-0840879b01cf.pdf), President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration.\n*   [View and download photos on Flickr](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.flickr.com\u002Fphotos\u002F186407681@N02\u002Falbums\u002F72157712606359982)[.](https:\u002F\u002Farbcrime.org\u002Fworkshop2020)","2020-01-10","high-level-workshop-on-the-legal-consequences-of-corruption-and-money-laundering-in-international-arbitration-1055","High-level workshop on the legal consequences of corruption and money laundering in international arbitration","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Ffcf07252-3936-482c-b317-836874bd077e?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[172],[17,281],"Presentations",[283,285],{"tags_id":284},{"id":232,"name":233},{"tags_id":286},{"id":287,"name":288},879,"Money laundering",1055,[172],[17,281],[],[],[26],[],"2022-05-26T22:55:30.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fhigh-level-workshop-on-the-legal-consequences-of-corruption-and-money-laundering-in-international-arbitration-1055",{"left":300,"top":300,"width":301,"height":301,"rotate":300,"vFlip":302,"hFlip":302,"body":303},0,20,false,"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M17 10a.75.75 0 0 1-.75.75H5.612l4.158 3.96a.75.75 0 1 1-1.04 1.08l-5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.08l5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 1 1 1.04 1.08L5.612 9.25H16.25A.75.75 0 0 1 17 10\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\u002F>",1780676417495]