Our joint chapter in a new book on Perspectives on Antitrust Compliance answers a common question that arises when compliance officers and company lawyers first hear about anti-corruption Collective Action: are there antitrust risks in engaging with other industry players through Collective Action?

The short answer is no. The longer answer is, as we explain in the chapter, “quite the opposite”.

This chapter (26) of Perspectives on Antitrust Compliance covers the scope and purpose of anti-corruption Collective Action and explains why Collective Action and peer collaboration are important in tackling corruption. It then gives practical advice on how to overcome concerns and avoid antitrust risks, including many examples from initiatives around the world.

Broadly, “internal controls” refers to systems of policies, procedures and practices to prevent, detect and respond to issues, errors and irregularities. 

Systems of internal control can be very effective in addressing corrupt conduct, which is the focus of this quick guide. But internal controls can also address other problems that affect an organisation’s efficiency and effectiveness, such as poor employee performance or the failure to accomplish important organisational goals. 

This article is the Basel Institute’s contribution to the Global Forum on Law, Justice and Development Review of Legal Experiences and Global Practices Relating to COVID-19, published in December 2021. The Global Forum is an initiative of The World Bank. The contribution was submitted in July 2020; the version below contains minor updates to hyperlinks.