Compliance & Ethics

In a major settlement, Hino Motors, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, has agreed to plead guilty to criminal conspiracy charges and pay a staggering $1.6 billion to resolve allegations of emissions fraud. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and a host of other federal and state agencies announced the resolution, which includes criminal fines, civil penalties, and a series of corrective measures.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) recently released updated antitrust guidelines for business activities affecting workers. The announcement, made on January 16, 2025, replaces the 2016 Antitrust Guidance for Human Resource Professionals and highlights a renewed focus on safeguarding workers' rights through rigorous enforcement of competition laws.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has begun the year by unveiling a sweeping set of enforcement actions aimed at holding banks and their personnel accountable. January’s slate includes hefty penalties, prohibitions, and stern warnings for institutions and individuals alike. Beyond the headlines, it’s a sharp reminder of the regulator’s ongoing commitment to rooting out misconduct at every level of the financial sector.

In a world where swiping right or transferring money can be done in seconds, trust is the bedrock of our digital lives. For Cash App users, that trust has been shaken—and regulators are stepping in with a forceful reminder that convenience can’t come at the cost of consumer protection.

When over 50 million people trust you to manage their money, getting it right isn’t just important—it’s everything. Unfortunately for Block, Inc., the parent company of Cash App, state regulators say the company dropped the ball.

It’s not every day that David takes on Goliath and wins. But in fiscal year 2024, a record number of whistleblowers did just that, helping the Department of Justice (DOJ) recover a staggering $2.9 billion under the False Claims Act. While the number is impressive, the stories behind it are even more so—ordinary people stepping up to expose extraordinary fraud.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) latest proposed rule isn’t just another notch in the belt of regulatory updates—it’s a call to arms for fairness, transparency, and accountability. Announced on January 13, 2025, this bold move challenges financial institutions to rethink the very foundations of how they engage with consumers.