Insights | Kobre & Kim — Disputes and Investigations

U.S. authorities are intensifying cross-border enforcement efforts tied to suspected corruption, cartel-linked activity, and suspicious financial activity in Latin America, increasing risks for politically exposed persons, business leaders, and state-linked individuals.
As investigations become increasingly coordinated across borders, individuals with exposure should proactively assess potential legal, financial, and reputational risks.

Growing resource nationalism, regulatory intervention and geopolitical competition are increasing cross-border risks for investors in extractive industries worldwide.
As governments seek greater control over strategic resources and disputes involving state-affiliated entities become more common, investors face rising exposure to overlapping regulations, multi-jurisdictional enforcement challenges, and politically driven disputes requiring coordinated cross-border strategies.

China’s new supply chain security rules are increasing cross-border risk for multinational companies by creating potential “legal collisions” between Chinese regulations and competing U.S., UK, and EU compliance obligations.
As governments increasingly use legal frameworks to advance geopolitical objectives, companies face growing exposure to overlapping enforcement regimes, retaliatory measures, and parallel disputes arising from supply chain, sanctions, and regulatory compliance decisions.

Geopolitical tensions are intensifying global sanctions enforcement, with regulators increasingly targeting indirect exposure through complex cross-border networks.
As uncertainty grows around shifting regimes, companies facing heightened legal and operational risks should strengthen diligence, assess exposure, and integrate sanctions into broader risk management.

After the SPAC boom of 2020 and 2021, many de-SPACed companies are now facing cash constraints and even bankruptcy.
Companies and their sponsors could face increasing scrutiny and disputes from shareholders, creditors or regulators as a result.
We explain how sponsors can be best positioned to prepare for the legal, financial and reputational risks that follow.

Governments have increased focus on third parties – including offshore trustees – as they look to enforce their sanctions regimes.
This increases the risk trustees could become embroiled in an accusation of violating sanctions.
Trustees should take proactive, globally comprehensive measures to reduce their risk and avoid a cross-border crisis.

Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (“SPACs”) can provide sponsors—often high-net-worth individuals—with large returns.
However, SPACs are not without their risks—there are growing signals the market may be cooling, which could lead to litigation and government enforcement.
SPAC sponsors and advisors should prepare early in order to reduce their potential exposure.