GOVERNMENT AND INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS
As a Partner in Perkins Coie's White Collar & Investigations group, Chelsea conducts confidential internal investigations for clients facing potential issues involving bribery, corruption, accounting and securities fraud, violations of company policy, or other employee misconduct. Experienced in managing both multinational and small-scale internal investigations, Chelsea helps clients identify and assess potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), U.K. Bribery Act, and other anti-bribery and anti-corruption (ABAC) laws and supply chain regulations. She also counsels clients on designing appropriate remediation plans to mitigate identified problems and minimize future legal exposure.
Chelsea frequently advises clients in connection with whistleblower allegations, including the decision to self-report potential violations of the FCPA to U.S. and/or foreign authorities. She also regularly appears before regulatory and enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or other federal agencies. Chelsea understands the expectations of outside auditors in the context of an ongoing internal investigation, and is experienced at navigating privilege issues that can arise when reporting investigation results.
Chelsea’s investigation clients range from small to multinational companies in a variety of industries, including highly-regulated industries such as aerospace and defense, automotive, apparel, food and beverage, mining and natural resource extractive industries, biotechnologies and healthcare, and technology/application services. Chelsea has led internal anti-corruption/FCPA investigations in more than 30 countries and on all continents except Antarctica.
COMPLIANCE COUNSELING, RISK ASSESSMENTS, AND ANTI-CORRUPTION DUE DILIGENCE
In addition to her investigation work, Chelsea works with clients to develop, improve, and implement company-wide compliance programs and internal controls. Whether by conducting targeted ABAC risk assessments, directing compliance program audits, or providing training to company executives, management teams, and other key personnel, Chelsea helps clients put in place a compliance infrastructure that will both address regulators’ expectations and reduce or prevent legal risks before they occur.
Chelsea also counsels clients in connection with anti-corruption-related transactional due diligence, either in advance of, or immediately following, a significant acquisition, forming a new joint venture, or the onboarding of new channel partners.
Chelsea serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Law School, where she teaches a course on the FCPA and other anti-corruption, anti-trafficking, and supply chain compliance regulations.