Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has advised Rolls-Royce plc (Rolls-Royce) in its Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which has been confirmed in open court by the President of the Queen’s Bench Division (Sir Brian Leveson) and published by the SFO. The firm also advised Rolls-Royce as it reached a DPA with the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) and a Leniency Agreement with Brazil’s Ministério Público Federal (MPF).

The resolutions relate to bribery and corruption involving intermediaries in a number of overseas markets, concerns about which Rolls-Royce passed to the SFO from 2012 onwards following a request from the SFO. For full details of the resolutions, see here.

Debevoise was engaged by Rolls-Royce in early 2012 to assist with certain enquiries from the SFO and to lead the subsequent internal investigations. The firm then jointly advised Rolls-Royce alongside Slaughter and May on the investigations by the SFO and the DoJ, and the subsequent coordinated resolution with the SFO, DoJ and the Brazilian Ministério Público Federal. Brazilian firm FeldensMadruga also advised.

The Debevoise team was led by London partner Karolos Seeger and New York partner Bruce E. Yannett, and included senior associates Ivona Josipovic and Thomas Jenkins.

Debevoise & Plimpton is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. We deliver effective solutions to our clients’ most important legal challenges, applying clear commercial judgment and a distinctively collaborative approach.