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Areas of Expertise

Corporate Ethics and Legal Compliance Programs, Lobbying Law, Political Campaign Finance Law, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Corporate Public Relations and Crisis Management


Courses

Corporate Compliance: Oversight, Culture, and Management of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Other Legal Risks


Biography

After 33 years at the Atlanta law firm, DeWitt Rogers retired at the end of 2017 from Troutman Sanders LLP, where he was a partner in the firm’s regulatory group. His practice focused on the design and administration of corporate ethics and legal compliance programs, lobbying law, political campaign finance law, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, corporate public relations and crisis management, and public utilities.

DeWitt has worked with numerous corporate clients to assure their US and multinational ethics and legal compliance programs meet the standards and guidance issued since the early 1990s by the US Sentencing Commission, federal and state courts, the Justice Department, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other federal agencies; by the UK Ministry of Justice pursuant to the UK Antibribery Act of 2010; and by international entities such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). He has helped companies develop, enhance and administer their compliance activities, draft policies and procedures, and train employees and contractors. He has conducted, and has advised clients on conducting, internal investigations involving compliance issues.

DeWitt has also advised companies on their compliance with the often complex federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations that restrict governmental relations activities in the areas of lobbyist registration and reporting, gifts and entertainment for public officials, and political contributions and expenditures. He has had extensive experience assisting clients in the formation and administration of corporate-sponsored and independent political action committees (PACs) on the federal, state and local level in the United States.

He has provided guidance on FCPA issues, including questionable payments, the retention of foreign agents, and the structuring of international transactions to minimize FCPA risks.

DeWitt received his BA degree from Emory University in 1974 and his JD degree from Emory Law in 1986.

Prior to his legal career, DeWitt was a journalist. After receiving a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University in 1975, he joined The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution as a staff writer. He later served as Business Editor, City Editor and Assistant Managing Editor. In these positions, he directed local, state and financial news coverage for the newspapers.