The sanctions processes within the leading multilateral development banks (MDBs) can result in serious consequences for the people and entities impacted, including debarment from an MDB’s future projects, cross-debarment by other MDBs, referral to national criminal and regulatory authorities, reputational harm, and competitive disadvantages when bidding for privately funded projects. These consequences can potentially cause an incalculable amount of damage in terms of lost private sector opportunities. Yet, too often, respondents and practitioners fail to appreciate the potential significance of MDB audits and investigations, or how best to navigate applicable MDB sanctions processes, until it is too late.
Freshfields lawyers Adam Siegel, Daniel Cendan, and Justin Simeone have authored a chapter titled, “Strategic considerations for sanctions processes at leading multilateral development banks,” in the first edition of The Guide to Multilateral Development Bank Investigations, published by the Global Investigations Review in February 2025. The new volume serves as a definitive guide to MDB investigations, providing a holistic overview of the prevention, investigation, litigation, and debarment phases of MDB integrity enforcement processes, based on insights from leading legal practitioners, consultants, and MDB personnel.
The chapter reflects Freshfields’ longstanding experience representing companies in sanctions proceedings before the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the African Development Bank, and other leading MDB institutions, as well as advising clients during audits, investigations, and post-sanction compliance monitoring obligations. To access our chapter in The Guide to Multilateral Development Bank Investigations, please click this link.
