Marelise van der Westhuizen

Provided risk advisory and remediation advice to a multinational consulting company following allegations of director misconduct and improper procurement processes when engaging with state owned enterprises.

Conducted corporate governance investigations for the South African National Olympic Committee.

Advised a multinational energy company in relation to a review of compliance issues arising from its operations within a particular Sub-Saharan jurisdiction. The advice emanating from the investigation related to company procurement, corporate governance, internal structures and allegations of possible corruption, fraud and influence of government officials.

Advised a multi-national company in relation to the conduct of a cross-jurisdictional internal investigation, involving amongst other regulators, the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO), into allegations including corruption, corporate espionage, fraud and money laundering. The advice emanating from the investigation findings related to, amongst other things, legislated reporting obligations, the unwinding of contractual obligations, the application of relevant legislation and corporate governance.

Advised a multi-national bank in a contentious cross-border internal investigation into allegations relating to the violation of exchange control regulations and unlawful externalisation of funds.

Advised a bank with a large southern African presence in an internal investigation into procurement related irregularities and provided advice emanating from the investigation findings.

Advised a multi-national company in a third-party anti-corruption due diligence in accordance with the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Advised a major public entity on all aspects of its response to an investigation into irregularities and maladministration in the award of a tender. Our advice related to, among others, legislated reporting obligations, unwinding the tender process without challenge, disciplinary proceedings and corporate governance.

Advised a major South African bank on charges relating to the failure to report suspicious transactions in terms of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act. The criminal proceedings focused on the use by the bank of a software system and required an in-depth understanding as well as expert evidence on how the software worked, how it was tweaked and whether it had failed.

Advised a US-based multinational provider of procurement, engineering and construction services to the electric power and oil and natural gas sectors on the South African law aspects of its internal investigation, following the receipt of a document preservation request from the Securities and Exchange Commission, pertaining to its dealings in South Africa and other jurisdictions.

Advising a major public entity on all aspects of its response to an investigation into irregularities and maladministration in the award of a public tender. Her advice related to, among others, legislated reporting obligations, unwinding the tender process without challenge, disciplinary proceedings and corporate governance.