In August, the Trump Administration issued a sweeping executive order concerning civil and administrative enforcement proceedings, supplementing an already-robust system of protections. Memorandum M-20-31 ordered all federal departments and agencies to provide specific protections and processes concerning the government’s burden of proof, the disclosure of evidence, the length of investigations, and the notification of parties under scrutiny, among other subjects.

But beyond U.S. shores, regulatory processes and procedures run the gamut. Having represented global financial institutions in numerous jurisdictions across six continents on matters related to banking, finance, securities, and antitrust/competition, we can attest that every foreign regulatory agency presents its own unique challenges. Each is shaped by its own timelines, investigative and enforcement methods, and cultural factors—both institutional and national.