Regulator Updates from the DOJ, FTC, & SEC

Learn from senior federal law enforcement officials at the Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and the Securities & Exchange Commission about the government’s recent enforcement activity and their current regulatory and enforcement priorities.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss current enforcement progress and new priorities from the Biden Administration
• Review recent pronouncements from the DOJ, FTC, and SEC on enforcement priorities
• Discuss trends and hot topics that regulators are seeing currently

Presenters:

Virginia Adams | US Forensic & Integrity Services Partner, EY

An EY veteran of over 20 years, Virginia is the Atlanta office Forensic & Integrity Services Leader. She regularly assists clients with complex, cross-border financial fraud investigations. She has worked alongside international law firms, reporting to regulators, law enforcement agencies, senior management and independent auditors on a range of issues pertaining to accounting matters, including fraud, corruption and financial statement restatements.

Virginia began her career as a part of the EY audit practice in Atlanta and has worked in the New York and Boston offices during her career. Virginia holds a BBA in International Business from the University of Georgia and an MS in Accountancy from the University of Virginia. She has co-authored several publications addressing fraud and corruption risk and is a frequent speaker on these topics. Virginia is a CPA in Georgia and New York and is a Certified Fraud Examiner.

 Anna Burns | Regional Director of Southeast Region | U.S. Federal Trade Commission

Anna Burns is the Regional Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Southeast Region. Anna joined the FTC in 2013, and, prior to becoming Regional Director in 2020, served as the Assistant Director of the Southeast Region from 2018-2020. While at the FTC, Anna has litigated and supervised consumer protection cases against payment processors and nonbank lenders, debt relief schemes, nationwide false advertising cases, and telemarketing scams. As Regional Director, Anna also leads the Southeast Region’s efforts in consumer and business outreach and education.

Prior to joining the Commission, Anna practiced in the areas of financial services litigation, consumer protection and trade litigation, and securities and shareholder litigation at a law firm in both its Atlanta and Washington, D.C., offices. Anna received her undergraduate degree from Emory University and is a graduate of Emory University School of Law.

Effective Strategies for Mitigating International Business Risk

As the landscape of international trade continues to shift under increased regulatory scrutiny, business leaders turn to compliance professionals for answers on how to navigate the intricacies of import controls and tariffs, combat foreign bribery and money laundering, or address foreign supply chain risks. This session is tailored to provide you with the strategies and tools needed to traverse the complex regulatory environment.

During this session, we will dive into recent enforcement actions and offer practical guidance on best practices in export controls, sanctions, import regulations, and anti-corruption efforts. Our panel of experts will share valuable insights into the latest trends and developments, equipping attendees with the knowledge to effectively manage compliance risks and uphold robust trade operations.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand recent enforcement actions related to export controls, sanctions, import controls & tariffs, foreign bribery and anti-money laundering.
• Learn about the latest trends impacting these areas 
• Identify foreign supply chain risks and best practices to effectively manage compliance risks

Presenters:

 Lynsey Barron | Principal, Barron Law LLC

Lynsey Barron is an experienced attorney practicing in the areas of criminal defense, civil rights, investigations, and appeals. She has been recognized by Chambers USA as a “rising star and one to watch” in White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations. She is also a Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice at Emory University School of Law where she teaches White Collar Crime, Federal Criminal Practice, and Sentencing Law and Policy. She clerked for Judge Beverly B. Martin on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. 

Before starting her own law practice, she was a partner at the law firm Miller & Martin PLLC where she headed up the firm’s white collar criminal defense practice. She spent several years in Jones Day’s Atlanta office, where she focused her practice on white collar criminal defense and commercial litigation. In addition to her Big Law experience, Lynsey was in-house counsel for United Parcel Service (UPS), where she managed compliance, investigations, data privacy, and cyber security. She has significant experience managing internal investigations; ethics and compliance issues including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), and international trade regulation and compliance. 

Myesha Cottom | Director, International Trade at Georgia-Pacific

Myesha Cottom is the Director of International Trade at Georgia-Pacific, a global leader in the manufacture of tissue, pulp, packaging, building products, and related chemicals. With more than two decades of expertise in legal and compliance roles, Myesha has dedicated the past ten years to leading trade compliance initiatives at Georgia-Pacific. She leads the trade transformation team, focusing on technology-driven transformation initiatives, managing import/export compliance assurance, and strategically developing end-to-end processes for essential program priorities. Myesha is a licensed customs broker and holds an MBA with a focus in supply chain management.

Damon Pike | Principal, Customs & International Trade Services at BDO

Damon founded the Customs and International Trade Services (CITS) group within BDO’s International Tax practice in 2019. With 35 years of experience helping multinational companies navigate the complex rules governing the cross-border movement of goods and services, he now serves as the Technical Practice Leader for the firm’s CITS team to support their mission of providing end-to-end global consulting services for all aspects of import/export planning and compliance. Over his lengthy career, Damon has assisted clients with all aspects of customs and international trade issues. He is especially renowned for his insights in harmonizing transfer pricing policies and customs valuation requirements as part of designing inhouse customs and trade compliance programs. Damon’s other areas of expertise include country of origin determinations, free trade agreements qualification, and customs controversy matters (audits, Prior Disclosures, Protests, etc.). In addition, Damon advises clients on export compliance and exports controls, often in the context of government contracts under the Trade Agreements Act. He has worked with many companies in filing Voluntary Self Disclosures with, e.g., the Bureau of Industry & Security (Commerce Dept.), the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (State Dept.), and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (Treasury Dept.).

Prior to running his own firm from 2006-2018, Damon spent 13 years with a Big Four firm as the National Director of the firm’s customs consulting practice. He has experience in the legislative and judicial branches of the federal government, beginning his career as a law clerk to the Hon. R. Kenton Musgrave at the U.S. Court of International Trade. Damon was also an associate in the Washington, D.C. office of the Atlanta-based law firm of Kilpatrick & Cody (now Kilpatrick Townsend).

Greg Shultz | Founder, Conformitise

Greg Shultz is a seasoned global compliance and risk executive with over 23 years of experience, including 11 years in the Asia Pacific region. His expertise lies in financial crime compliance, where he has led teams to design and implement global programs that mitigate reputational and regulatory risks. Greg’s work in Asia, particularly in Hong Kong, involved the development of comprehensive frameworks for anti-money laundering, sanctions, anti-bribery, and anti-fraud compliance across multiple countries, reflecting his deep understanding of the region’s unique challenges and opportunities.

As a compliance technologist, Greg has a strong interest in leveraging advanced technology to enhance the effectiveness of compliance programs. He has pioneered the integration of AI and other data-driven technologies into compliance strategies, creating real-time, automated solutions that provide visibility into program effectiveness. His commitment to innovation is evident in his work at BlackRock and Morgan Stanley, where he personally designed software architecture to streamline compliance processes.

Currently, as the founder of Conformitise, Greg is providing expert consulting services, focusing on fraud prevention, sanctions adherence, and anti-corruption measures, with a strong emphasis on the democratization of compliance processes and using technology-driven solutions. His global perspective, honed through years of experience in Asia, combined with his passion for technology, positions him as a leader in the field of compliance and risk management

Communication Techniques for Effective Stakeholder Engagement

Communicating effectively and meaningfully with stakeholders about compliance can be a challenge. This fireside chat will focus on how to better engage and partner with the business on key issues, including the role of government regulators and enforcement agencies. Join Jill Keller Hengen and Laura Terrell as they share their experiences and recommendations for best practices in initiating better conversations with business leaders. We will focus on how to enhance communications to position compliance professionals as a resource to help operationalize and execute on critical compliance needs.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the common challenges faced when communicating compliance issues to stakeholders
• Recognize the impact of government regulators and enforcement agencies on compliance discussions
• Develop strategies to engage and partner effectively with business leaders on key compliance issues
• Enhance communication techniques to better position compliance professionals as valuable resources

Presenters:

Jill Keller Hengen | Of Counsel, Jones Day

Jill Keller Hengen is a leader in managing internal, global, and government-facing investigations across a broad spectrum of matters, with substantial experience in the life sciences and health care sectors. She has worked successfully to strengthen and build out corporate compliance programs regarding anticorruption, privacy, trade, ESG (environment, social, governance), and workplace culture.

Jill’s portfolio of work includes extensive experience in government affairs, congressional investigations, crisis management, and proactive compliance reviews, as well as investigations involving anticorruption, accounting fraud, national security, environmental compliance, and problematic conduct by public company officers. Jill’s government relations experience positions her to take a multifaceted approach to investigations that involve the legal and policy arenas. She advises clients on the political and reputational issues facing them while under investigation and develops and implements strategies taking the attendant political and media attention into account.

Jill is an active member of the Atlanta legal community and has been a leader in a number of charitable, political, and diversity initiatives throughout her career, including those dedicated to increasing the number of women elected to public office.

Laura Terrell | Principal, Laura Terrell Executive Coaching 

Laura Terrell is an executive coach with over 25 years of professional experience as a legal and business leader. In coaching, she focuses on the issues that are most important to professionals working to address issues in their careers and work lives. Prior to launching her coaching practice, Laura was a Special Assistant to the President at the White House, a senior level appointee at the US Department of Justice, an equity partner in two large global law firms, and in-house counsel at a major global consulting and business advisory firm.

Laura has led and managed teams of hundreds of people across multiple countries, and has been a top advisor for many Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies. Her clients come from a wide variety of industries, including law, education, financial services, pharmaceutical, oil & gas, non-profit, health care, and technology. Some of them are senior corporate executives like CEOs and general counsels; others are lawyers and consultants, entrepreneurs and small business owners, as well as professionals who may be returning to the workforce, making a pivot to a new career, or switching roles mid-career.

Laura has worked extensively and in-person in many international markets and financial centers, including New York, Washington, Chicago, Silicon Valley, Canada, London, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Singapore and China. 

Living in the Maze: A Practical Discussion on Modern Privacy Compliance

Building and operating a privacy compliance in today’s rapidly evolving legislative and regulatory environment is not for the faint of heart. This session will feature an interactive discussion of best practices in privacy program development and operations.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand where to go to keep tabs on the rapidly changing compliance environment
• Identify effective ways to build an effective governance organization, including must-have roles
• Learn the “Do’s and Don’ts” of implementing a new privacy compliance function at your enterprise and sustaining the program after its launch

Presenters:

Tarryn Brennon | Chief Privacy Officer at Georgia Institute of Technology

A seasoned legal executive with deep privacy expertise, Tarryn joined Georgia Institute of Technology as its inaugural Chief Privacy Officer in March 2024. She oversees the privacy program and a budding network of privacy advocates and enthusiasts. Tarryn previously led the Data Privacy Office at Pearson, plc, a U.K.-based multi-national education technology and media company operating in 70 + countries, after stints supporting the legal affairs of Pearson’s two largest revenue grossing divisions. As Senior Vice President and Chief Privacy Officer, she created a data culture that embraced privacy norms and best practices and gained the trust of customers. She also garnered international recognition as an innovative thought leader in education technology and privacy by the Software Information Industry Association.

Tarryn started her legal career as a corporate lawyer and litigator in the New York office of Hughes Hubbard & Reed, an AmLaw 200 law firm, where she supported major corporate transactions and corporate financing deals, as well as “bet the company” commercial litigation. Tarryn also worked more than 5 years as a Certified Public Accountant and auditor at textile manufacturer, Spring Industries, Inc. in Lancaster, SC and Big 4 accounting firm KPMG in Charlotte, NC. Tarryn is an alumnus of Florida A&M University, where she earned a B.S. in Accounting. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Jeff Handler | Senior Counsel & Privacy Lead at Cox Automotive

With over 20 years of experience, Jeff Handler has distinguished himself as a seasoned leader and expert in navigating complex commercial and regulatory landscapes. Currently serving as Senior Counsel and Privacy Lead at Cox Automotive, Jeff brings a wealth of expertise in data privacy, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance, adeptly navigating complex commercial agreements and financial services transactions. His extensive background includes leading cross-functional and international teams, negotiating high-stakes commercial agreements, and advising on data privacy and cybersecurity regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL.

Throughout a notable career that includes Vice President of Legal and Compliance at UPS Capital and extensive tenure at firms like Greenberg Traurig and King & Spalding, Jeff has demonstrated exceptional skills in regulatory compliance, financial services transactions, and corporate governance.

Jim Sturm | VP, Legal & Chief Privacy Officer at Inspire Brands (moderator)

Jim Sturm is data privacy strategy and protection, cybersecurity and digital retail compliance executive, currently serving as Vice President, Legal & Chief Privacy Officer for the 2nd largest Restaurant Company in the United States. In this role, Jim frequently advises senior leadership, multiple brand presidents and the Board on strategic privacy and data solutions, risks, and cybersecurity legal matters. He also leads their legal incident response with respect to cyber and privacy matters, including third party incidents.

Jim led the build of Inspire’s global privacy program, and was also lead on supporting international digital growth and development, Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance, regulatory inquiries, and data governance.

Amanda Witt | Partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

Amanda Witt co-leads the Technology, Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice at Kilpatrick Townsend. She is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US and CIPP/E), as certified by the IAPP. She is a member of the Board of the International Section of the Georgia Bar. Her practice includes the areas of U.S. and global privacy, AI, information technology, cybersecurity, IoT, e-commerce, cross-border transactions, licensing and procurement, intellectual property protection and transactions, strategic alliances, commercial transactions, software development and licensing, SaaS services, and electronic signatures.

Amanda was listed in the last four years in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and ranked nationally as a “Recognized Practitioner” in the area of Privacy & Data Security. She was also recognized for the last four years by The Best Lawyers in America® for Privacy and Data Security Law. She most enjoys working with clients who are dedicated to the ethical use of data and differentiate themselves by offering privacy-protective products and services.