
Publication
Blue Bonds: Making a splash in the Capital Markets
In 2018, the Republic of Seychelles launched the first-ever “blue bond”, with the support of the World Bank Group and the Global Environment Facility.
Author:
United States | Publication | April 2022
On April 20, the US Department of Justice announced a nationwide healthcare fraud takedown involving 21 defendants, nine federal districts, and "over US$149 million in COVID-19-related false billings to federal programs and theft from federally-funded pandemic assistance programs." This latest healthcare fraud takedown involves allegations of identity theft, charging for services that were not provided, trafficking in fake COVID-19 vaccination cards, exploitation of pandemic telehealth policies, and misappropriation of CARES Act Healthcare Provider Relief Funds (PRF).
Associate Deputy Attorney General Kevin Chambers, the Director for COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement for the US Department of Justice, noted the takedown "illustrates the success of our unprecedented interagency effort to quickly investigate and prosecute those who abuse our critical health care programs." In line with the Administration's approach to targeting individuals as well as entities, Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division Kenneth Polite noted the Department will use "all available tools to hold accountable medical professionals, corporate executives, and others."
In an unquestionably related development, the White House released its National Drug Control Strategy. The strategy includes focusing on untreated addiction and drug trafficking as solutions toward the national opioid and drug overdose crisis. This is yet another signal that the Administration is laser-focused on health and healthcare issues.
Norton Rose Fulbright represents businesses, executives, and healthcare providers in government investigations and has an experienced team of former high-level government officials uniquely positioned to navigate investigations into participation in pandemic relief programs. If you or your business are involved in a government investigation or receive a government subpoena or civil investigative demand (CID), our team will defend your interests aggressively and effectively.
Co-Author Senior associate Chris Cooke (San Antonio) is employed by Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP and is licensed in New York and the District of Columbia; he is working under the supervision of a licensed Texas Norton Rose Fulbright lawyer pending admission to the Texas bar. In 2020, Chris helped stand up the Office of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, which was established under the CARES Act to investigate pandemic-relief fraud. In this role, Chris helped establish the office's investigative processes and worked with officials across the Treasury, the Federal Reserve Board, DOJ, the Small Business Administration, and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.
Publication
In 2018, the Republic of Seychelles launched the first-ever “blue bond”, with the support of the World Bank Group and the Global Environment Facility.
Publication
We are delighted to be participating in Marine Money Week New York 2025. As one of the landmark events for the global shipping finance community, and with the global shipping and maritime industry at such a pivotal juncture, we look forward to catching up with clients and contacts to continue discussions around navigating the current challenges and opportunities.
Publication
On 8 May 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (the CJEU) delivered its ruling in case C-581/23 (the Ruling), providing guidance on one of the conditions for an exclusive distribution agreement to benefit from the block exemption under Article 4(b)(i) of the 2010 Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (the VBER)1, notably the so-called ‘parallel imposition requirement’.
Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest legal news, information and events . . .
© Norton Rose Fulbright LLP 2025