Corporate responsibility and compliance aim to actively create the conditions to achieve financial and environmental sustainability as well as sustainability in terms of social responsibility. Along with corporate responsibility, this is a part of the internal control system that mainly aims to ensure the compliance of companies with laws and regulations as well as internal codes and guidelines.
This creates sustainable entrepreneurship, which plays a key role in ensuring quality and a long-term perspective as well as strengthening your brand name. We see corporate responsibility and compliance as an umbrella with several segments underneath it, such as anti-corruption, internal fraud, product safety, public procurement, environmental law, competition law, privacy law/Personal Data Act, measures against money laundering and terrorist financing, and working methods that prevent various types of regulatory interventions. You can read more about each segment below.
Anti-corruption
Anti-corruption is governed by both laws and various regulatory frameworks and codes prepared by the business community (such as the Code on Gifts, Rewards and other Benefitsin Business i.e. the Code of Business Conduct, Sw: Näringslivskoden) or other industry organizations. Anti-corruption rules have become stricter and more complex recently. Several cases have also received a high level of attention in the media.
As a result of new anti-bribery legislation in Sweden and the UK, actions and procedures previously considered normal industry practice could now constitute breaches. The new anti-bribery legislation also stipulates that individuals on the management level of companies may incur criminal liability if they negligently created the conditions for employees or other representatives of the company to commit bribery crimes. This implies that management must take sufficient control and precautionary measures to prevent corruption in the business and thus avoid criminal liability. Lindahl monitors changes with respect to anti-corruption on an ongoing basis, both nationally and internationally, and can provide advice both for preventive purposes and in the event of breaches.
Internal fraud
Companies are subject to stringent requirements from both legal frameworks and externally in the event of internal fraud. Gaining control over a situation that has emerged early on can make things easier at a later stage and limit potential damage. With experience from major fraud cases and understanding for the company's delicate situation, Lindahl can assist in investigations and risk assessments.
Product safety
The framework for product safety regulations is extensive both on the European and national level. In addition to national legislation, companies must comply with the regulations issued by the EU and local authorities. Lindahl provides advice in all of these areas, such as advice relating to product recalls, product liability issues and issues in relation to EU directives, such as the Machinery Directive.
Public procurement
Government authorities, public sector entities and state-owned companies need to understand whether they are subject to procurement legislation and, if so, to what extent. It is extremely important that the governing regulatory frameworks are applied in the right way. Lindahl helps the public sector ensure compliance with the right framework in the right way. We also assist suppliers with sales to the public sector, which is often a complicated process in several different steps with specific requirements and policies that must be met and complied with. Read more about our public procurement services.
Environmental law
We represent applicants in licensing procedures, conduct environmental law reviews and risk assessments for commercial transactions and manage various forms of disturbance, infringement and compensation issues in and out of court. Energy law is another key component of our services, including trading in energy and emission rights as well as regulatory issues in relation to electricity, natural gas and radiation safety. Read more about our environmental law services.
Competition law
Competition law is a natural component of most business transactions (including acquisitions) and most types of commercial contracts require a competition law review. The competition law services we provide includes compliance programs, where the businesses of our clients are assessed to ensure that they are in compliance with applicable competition legislation. Read more about our competition law services.
Privacy law
Lindahl has long-standing and wide-ranging privacy law consulting experience. We represent companies on an ongoing basis with respect to privacy law issues, such as drafting information and contracts in accordance with the Personal Data Act, as well as policy documents and legal opinions. We also serve as counsel in contact with the Swedish Data Inspection Board as well as in legal proceedings at court. On behalf of our clients, we also conduct special audits (due diligence) of how companies manage personal data and other data that is sensitive in terms of privacy and assist in ensuring that this data is managed in accordance with applicable rules. Read more about our privacy law services.
Measures against money laundering and terrorist financing
Financial companies, as well as certain other types of activities covered by what is usually referred to as the money laundering regulations. The purpose of the regulation is to make concerned actors aware of their risk of exposure to money laundering and/or terrorist financing, based on the actor's activities. In accordance with the regulations, the actor must then introduce necessary measures, for example, in relation to customer awareness, and establish an internal control environment with the aim of ensuring that the activities cannot be exploited for illegal ends Lindahl has long and broad experience of working with the money laundering regulations for various types of actors, encompassing everything from conducting risk assessments and drafting requisite governing documents with appropriate procedures to ensure regulatory compliance, to providing second opinions of existing system and procedures.
For further information on how we work with measures against money laundering and terrorist financing for financial institutions that are subject to licensing and registration requirements respectively, please read more about our work within Insurance Law and Financial Services respectively.
Industry focus
Certain industries are more heavily regulated than others, such as life sciences, telecom and the financial sector. Read more about what we can do for you in each industry by clicking on the linked names above.
Comprehensive working methods
Our long-standing experience and cutting-edge legal expertise enables us to provide businesses with tailor-made compliance solutions. Our consulting services can be divided up into three main areas:
- Preventive measures
- Investigation when breaches are suspected
- Assistance in managing regulatory intervention
