The Bribery Act is coming soon
If you run a business or conduct business in England and Wales then I hope you are ready because the new Bribery Act will come into force on the 1st July 2011 and it will affect you. It will create a handful of new offences; but while the offences may be few they will be wide ranging and very powerful carrying sentences of up to 10 years imprisonment. You may find yourself criminalised for what you currently consider trivial or even normal and good business practice. One of the main problem areas will be where to draw the line between business entertainment and bribery. A few weeks ago, a barristers clerk took me out for lunch, drinks and dinner (I think I paid for dinner but it's all a bit hazy by that point). We ended up in a casino and he paid for my gambling. Obviously, he was looking to promote his Chambers to me and get me to send work their way. Now depending on your views, this could be normal entertainment or it could amount to bribery under th...