Reagan R. Demas
Biography
Reagan Demas is a recognized leader in investigations and compliance, and has significant experience working on behalf of companies operating in emerging markets and high risk jurisdictions. He has managed major legal compliance investigations for a variety of Fortune 500 companies, including work reported in the New York Times, BBC, CNN, Bloomberg, Financial Times, The Guardian, and Reuters, among other global publications. Reagan has negotiated settlements before the US Department of Justice, US Securities and Exchange Commission, and other federal and state regulatory entities, obtaining declinations in a number of matters. He is a trusted advisor to global corporations on investigations and assessments covering a variety of legal compliance and crisis matters, including bribery/corruption, sanctions and export controls, fraud, money laundering, forced labor and human rights. Reagan has written and spoken extensively on emerging compliance trends in environmental, social and governance (ESG) legal risk, corruption and sanctions, and advises on best practices in compliance program development.
He is the founder and chief editor of Baker McKenzie's Global Supply Chain Compliance Blog and serves on the steering committee of the North American Litigation and Government Enforcement Practice Group. Reagan also serves as a member of the Global Steering Committee of the Firm's Industrials, Manufacturing and Transportation (IMT) Industry Group.
Practice Focus
Representative Legal Matters
- Managed an investigation into allegations of kickbacks, fraud and self-dealing in the supply chains of a U.S. listed luxury goods company.
- Conducted an investigation for a US listed retailer and services company into allegations of fraud and improper revenue recognition practices.
- Managed the investigation and response of a global consulting firm to regulatory inquiries from an Asian country into public procurement irregularities.
- Managed and conducted a full-scale investigation on behalf of a global freight forwarder on potential violations of the FCPA and other compliance issues in six North and West African nations, as part of a US Department of Justice (DOJ) and US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation.
- Managed an investigation for a global US listed manufacturing company of product diversion allegations involving Russia and Iran.
- Served as monitor/compliance consultant to a global freight forwarder and logistics provider post-DOJ/SEC settlement and delivered regular reports to DOJ/SEC as required under a Deferred Prosecution Agreement.
- Advised a global automobile company on environmental, forced labor, and human rights disclosure obligations under global regulatory regimes.
- Advised multiple global companies on ESG regulatory requirements and best practices for complying with laws and mitigating liability risk in operations and supply chains.
- Conducted an investigation for a global, US listed manufacturing into ESG/product compliance shortfalls in the EU and advised on practical remediation steps.
- Conducted onsite customs-related compliance assessments in six countries in Africa, Asia and South America for a multinational drilling company.
- Conducted an investigation for a US listed retailer and services company into allegations of fraud and improper revenue recognition practices.
- Assisted a US-based product distributor in restructuring its Nigerian operations in compliance with US and Nigerian law.
- Conducted an investigation into fraud and money laundering allegations on behalf of a Fortune 500 company's operations in Argentina.
- Managed investigation of potential violations of the FCPA in China by a listed global oil and gas services company, including disclosure and reporting to the DOJ and SEC.
Admissions
- District of Columbia~United States (2009)
- California~United States (2001)
Education
- Harvard Law School (J.D.) (2000)
- Stanford University (B.A., Distinction) (1997)
Languages
- English