The expression for prosecutors used to be ‘follow the money.’ These days after cases like that of Wachovia Bank in which senior bank officers readily admitted in e-mails to knowing of a multi-million dollar fraud involving Wachovia accounts, investigators may now have to replace ‘follow the money’ with ‘check the inboxes.’ Corporate boards and senior management may have to adopt a new mantra altogether–’update the records retention policy.’

After years of shareholder lawsuits and criminal prosecutions made on the backs of explicit e-mails or executive memoranda, companies appear still to be woefully behind in their awareness and implementation ofpolicies to determine when, how and why records should be retained or destroyed–particularly once you get outside the Fortune 100. “We just completed a survey of in-house counsel at 400 U.S. and U.K. companies,” says Michelle Lang, director of legal services at Kroll Ontrack, an IT consultancy specializing in records control. “And I was pretty shocked at the results.” She reports that only 25% of corporate counsel offices reported being “up to speed” on Electronically Stored Information (ESI) case law or on how compliant their own companies’ policies were. Only half of U.S. companies surveyed had any policy at all for retention or the regular culling and destruction of unneeded records. “That also means,” says Lang, “that half the companies in the U.S. probably have no plan for how to handle any ESI litigation that comes their way.”

Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to Treasury & Risk, part of your ALM digital membership.

Your access to unlimited Treasury & Risk content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Critical Treasury & Risk information including in-depth analysis of treasury and finance best practices, case studies with corporate innovators, informative newsletters, educational webcasts and videos, and resources from industry leaders.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and Treasury & Risk events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including PropertyCasualty360.com and Law.com.

Already have an account?


NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Treasury & Risk

Join Treasury & Risk

Don’t miss crucial treasury and finance news along with in-depth analysis and insights you need to make informed treasury decisions. Join Treasury & Risk now!

  • Free unlimited access to Treasury & Risk including case studies with corporate innovators, informative newsletters, educational webcasts, and resources from industry leaders.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and Treasury & Risk events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM publications including PropertyCasualty360.com and Law.com.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join Treasury & Risk

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.