Covington & Burling LLP operates as a limited liability partnership worldwide, with the practice in England and Wales conducted by an affiliated
limited liability multinational partnership, Covington & Burling LLP, which is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware in the United States
and authorized and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with registration number 77071..
Don Ridings leads Covington’s Anti-Corruption Practice Group, and co-leads the firms Business & Human Rights and ESG practices.
As chair of the firm’s global Anti-Corruption Practice Group, Don leads a team of compliance and investigation lawyers based in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Africa. Don is recognized as a leading Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) practitioner by Chambers Global and Chambers USA.
For more than two decades, Don has advised clients in nearly every major industry on compliance issues arising under the FCPA and other anti-bribery regimes. He serves as outside anti-corruption counsel to several Fortune 500 companies, including two in the Fortune 10. Don advises clients on compliance risks in investment transactions, designs and helps implement compliance programs, and counsels clients on a broad range of anti-corruption and other compliance risks. For companies with mature compliance programs, Don leads independent compliance program assessments that allow companies to benchmark their compliance programs against peer companies and regulator expectations.
Don has led dozens of internal investigations arising from conduct in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. He represents clients before the U.S. Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission, where he has secured several non-public declinations.
As a leader of the firm’s Business & Human Rights and ESG practices, Don advises clients on the evolving legal regimes related to the corporate responsibility to respect human rights. He counsels clients on issues relating to supply chain due diligence and responsible sourcing, human rights due diligence in investment transactions, integrating human rights elements into existing compliance programs, and responding to demands from NGOs, investors, regulators, and other stakeholders.
An experienced civil and international litigator, Don has represented clients in federal and state courts, international arbitral tribunals, and administrative proceedings. He maintains an active civil rights-focused pro bono practice.
Led risk assessments and developed or enhanced global anti-corruption compliance programs for companies across a range of business sectors, including agriculture, automotive, consulting, consumer products, energy, financial services, food, health care, manufacturing, medical devices, mining, pharmaceuticals, private equity, technology, telecommunications and transportation.
Led a two-year, 10-country anti-corruption risk assessment and compliance program assessment for a global consumer brand.
Serve as global compliance counsel to two of the world’s largest privately-held companies.
Led the Covington team that successfully obtained FCPA Opinion Procedure Release 10-02, which established DOJ good practices for mitigating compliance risks from donations that are coerced by foreign government officials.
Business & Human Rights
Advised several clients on supply chain / responsible sourcing compliance issues, including on strategic engagement with Customs & Border Protection in connection with existing and threatened Withhold Release Orders.
Representing a client in an OECD National Contact Point dispute.
Litigation and Arbitration
Represented a leading global pharmaceutical company in federal and state class actions and parallel government investigations arising from disputed sales and pricing practices.
Successful representation of Kyocera Corporation in ICC arbitration, securing an unusual summary adjudication award that was affirmed and enforced by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 1999
Highest Honors
Law Review
Order of the Coif
Sussex University, M.A., 1991
Harvard University, A.B., 1990
Bar Admissions
District of Columbia
Pro Bono
First chaired successful arbitration against the federal government arising out of the Department of Agriculture’s discriminatory farm credit lending practices.
Lead counsel in a Constitutional challenge to the medical conditions at a private prison operated under contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Accolades
Chambers Global, FCPA (2015-2023)
Chambers USA, FCPA (2012-2023)
Previous Experience
Management and Communication Trainer, Tokyo, Japan (1994-1996)
Legislative Aide to a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC (1991-1994)
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