William D. Semins
William Semins advises companies with business in foreign countries on matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and global ethical supply chain risk and has conducted internal corporate investigations as well as investigations into prospective and existing foreign agents and business partners in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, and South America. In addition to helping clients develop effective anti-corruption compliance programs to detect and prevent potential problems, he has represented clients in matters before the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. William is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and frequently advises financial institutions with respect to their anti-money launder obligations.
- 2010 Pennsylvania Rising Star
- 2011 Pennsylvania Rising Star
- Co-Chair, K&L Gates Global Ethical Supply Chain Task Force
- Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, ACAMS
- Co-Presenter, “They Didn’t Teach This in Law School: Adventures in Compliance & Cross-Border Investigations,” 12th Annual Fraud & Corruption Awareness Seminar, presented by the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Rivers Casino, Pittsburgh, PA, 20 May 2024
- Moderator/Panelist, “DOJ & SEC: Update on Agencies’ Enforcement Posture, Compliance, and Data Analytics,” 12th Annual ACI Anti-Corruption Brazil Conference, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 24 May 2023
- Moderator/Panelist, “Creating a Best-in-Class ESG Compliance Program: Engaging with Stakeholders and Leveraging Cross Functional Teams to Identify Key Risk Factors and Ensure Compliance,” 39th Annual ACI FCPA Conference, Washington, D.C., 30 November 2022
- Panelist, Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains, K&L Gates and Gowling WLG Webinar with Julie Miville-Dechêne, Senator, Senate of Canada, 19 January 2022
- Panelist, “ESG from a Renewable Developer’s Perspective: Due Diligence and Procurement Considerations,” ESG For Renewable Energy Financing, Master Class, presented by INFOCAST Virtual, 2 November 2021
- Panelist, “Voluntary Disclosure: Special Edition - A Debrief on the 37th International Conference on the Foreign corrupt Practices Act, 9 December 2020 (Podcast)
- Panelist, “The New Realities of Third-Party Due Diligence with Limited Resources: The Top Five Newest, Most Effective Strategies for Vetting Your Business Partners, Their Partners and More,” 37th Annual ACI FCPA Conference, Washington, D.C., 3 December 2020
- Presenter, “Strategies for Ethical Supply Chain Risk Management”, Organic & Non-GMO Forum, 10 November 2020
- Moderator/Panelist, “Compliance and Risk Assessment in a Time of Transition: How Industry is Tackling New, Emerging Anti-Corruption Challenges,” 7th Mexico Summit on Anti-Corruption (ACI), October 2020
- Presenter, “Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking in the Supply Chain: Issues Affecting Your Business,” CLE Program, K&L Gates, 20 August 2019
- Presenter, “Politically Destabilized Markets and Regime Changes: Multinational Decision-Makers Offer Perspectives on Making the Newest, Toughest Legal and Compliance Calls”, 10th Annual Forum on Anti-Corruption Compliance in High Risk Markets (ACI), Washington, DC, July 2019
- Presenter, “Compliance & Risk Management Strategy Session: Evolving Your Program to Manage the Convergence of Anti-Corruption, Fraud, AML and Economic Sanctions Risks,” 35th Annual International Conference on the FCPA (ACI), Washington, D.C., 28 November 2018
- Presenter, “M&A and Joint Venture Case Studies: The Latest, Most Overlooked Due Diligence and Post-Acquisition Mistakes to Avoid Moving Forward,” ACI’s 34th International Conference on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in Washington, D.C., November 2017
- Presenter, “Global Supply Chain Risk: Corporate Exposure for Human Trafficking, Forced Labor and Human Rights Abuses,” K&L Gates Webinar, 24 October 2017
- Presenter, “DOJ/SEC Enforcement Trends 2017,” a PwC event, Pittsburgh, PA, June 2017
- Presenter, “How to Build a Relationship without Committing a Crime: Analyzing Political Contributions, Sponsorship and Donations, Gifts, Entertainment and Hospitality Pitfalls,” ACI’s 6th Global Forum on Anti-Corruption Compliance in High Risk Markets in Washington, D.C., July 2015
- Presenter, “Middle East Case Study: Iraq, UAE and Saudi Arabia -- How Increased Liability and Evolving Regulatory Changes are Impacting Culture and Anti-Corruption Compliance Business in the Region,” ACI’s 3rd Global Anti-Corruption Regulatory and Enforcement Update in Washington, D.C., July 2015
- Presenter, “Russia – State of Enforcement and New Economic Sanctions Restrictions and How They Impact the Anti-Corruption Landscape in Russia,” ACI’s 3rd Global Anti-Corruption Regulatory and Enforcement Update in Washington, D.C., July 2015
- Presenter, “Uncovering Red Flags – How to Identify Weak Internal Financial Controls in Your Russian Operations,” at ACI’s 7th Annual Russia and CIS Summit on Anti-Corruption in Moscow, Russia, March 2015
- Presenter, “Russia's Amended Anti-Bribery Law: Extended Statute of Limitations, Greater Penalties and More,” Strafford Publication Webinar, November 2014
- Moderator, “Cracking Foreign Markets: How to Avoid Traps While Hunting for Opportunity,” Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, Madison, WI, November 2014
- Presenter, “Policies in Action: Tales from the Front Lines of Anti-Corruption Compliance,” Madison International Trade Association, Madison, WI, November 2014
- Presenter, “Emerging Trends in Anti-Corruption Compliance,” Moscow Business Leaders Roundtable, K&L Gates event, Moscow Russia, September 2014
- Presenter, “US & EU Export Controls and the Impact of Sanctions,” Moscow Business Leaders Roundtable, K&L Gates event, Moscow, Russia, September 2014
- Presenter, “Doing Business in India,” K&L Gates Webinar, May 2014
- Presenter, “Update on the UK Bribery Act and Enforcement Environment in the UK and Russia,” American Leaders Conference: Anti-Corruption Compliance in Practice, Washington, DC, April 2014
- Presenter, “FCPA and the Newly Amended Anti-Bribery Law in Russia: Compliance Strategies for Expanded Enforcement of Corruption Laws,” Strafford Publication webinar, September 2013
- Presenter, “Russia Joins the OECD Anti-bribery Convention: What will this mean for doing business in Russia?” K&L Gates Webinar, May 2012
- Presenter, “FCPA and Anti-Corruption in Russia: Compliance Strategies Following New OECD Relationship, Recent Enforcement Actions and Other Developments,” Strafford Publication Webinar, August 2012
- Presenter, “FCPA and Anti-Corruption in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States: Compliance Strategies for the Region's Unique Cultural and Governmental Intricacies,” Strafford Publications Webinar, May 2011
Additional Thought Leadership Pages
- Author, “Holding the Line: Evolving ABAC Practices in a Changing World,” Anti-Corruption Report, July 16, 2025
- Co-Author, "Something’s Gotta Give: Navigating Auditor Inquiries in Investigations," Anti-Corruption Report (2-part series), 21 December 2022 and 4 January 2023; reprinted in Cybersecurity Law Report, Private Equity Law Report, Hedge Fund Law Report
- Co-Author, “Using Risk Assessments and Contract Clauses to Manage Modern Slavery Supply-Chain Risk,” Anti-Corruption Report, 30 March 2022
- Co-Author, “Risk Assessments During Pandemic: The Standard Is Still the Standard,” Anti-Corruption Report, 15 September2021
- Co-Author, “ESG and the Sustainable Economy Handbook,” 13 September 2021
- Co-Author, “White House Chooses Exclusion of Silica-Based Products Produced Using Forced Labor, Impacting Solar PVs”, K&L Gates Updates, 24 June 2021; reprinted, National Law Review, Volume XI, Number 175
- "Doing More With Less: Tools for Managing Third Party Risk With Scarce Resources," Anti-Corruption Report, 28 April 2021; reprinted in Cyber Security Report; reprinted in the Hedge Fund Law Report
- Co-Author, “More Tools for AML Enforcement and More to Come: Key Considerations from the 2020 Anti-money Laundering Act and the Corporate Transparency Act”, 15 January 2021
- Co-Author, “The Compliance Risks Facing Companies that Use Chat Apps,” Law360, 16 June 2020
- Co-Author, “Pandemic Elevates Cos.’ Compliance Risks in Latin America,” Law360, 27 May 2020
- Co-Author, “The Growing Importance of Fully Integrated Compliance Programs,
- ”The Review of Securities & Commodities Regulation, Vol. 52, No. 9, 8 May 2019
- "Managing Global Corruption Risk in an Era When Everyone Has (or Should Have) a Compliance Program," Association of Corporate Counsel - South Carolina Chapter Newsletter, 22 June 2017
- Co-author, “FCPA and Other Anti-Corruption Concerns Facing Companies Doing Business in Argentina and Brazil,” Latin American Law and Business Report, Vol. 20, No. 11, November 2012, Reprinted for Practical Intellectual Corporate Finance Strategies, Vol. 38, No. 22, December 2012
- Co-author, “FCPA: Enforcement Growing Globally,” Global Government Solutions 2010 - The Year Ahead, K&L Gates Publication
- Co-author, “A New Method for Regulatory Antitrust Analysis? Verizon Communications Inc. v. Trinko,” Richmond Journal of Law & Technology, October 2005
- Co-author, “The New FTC Disgorgement and Restitution Policy Statement: 'Exceptional' Remedies Could Lead to Exceptional Penalties,” Antitrust & Trade Regulation Update
Additional News & Event Pages
