Anti-corruption clauses in business contracts
Published 2026-06-30
Abstract
The increasingly widespread use of anti-corruption clauses in business contracts makes it necessary to analyze such activities and the related issues, since this topic is not given sufficient attention in legal science. The paper discusses approaches adopted in practical activities, analyzes regulations, and examines legal sources and certain statistical data.The complex reasons why companies include anti-corruption clauses in their contracts are being studied. An analysis of the principle of good faith in civil relations was conducted and the expectations that the parties place on anti-corruption clauses were discussed. As a result, it has been established that there is no single approach to formulating anti-corruption clauses, and that the methods of “integrating” them into the parties' contractual documentation also differ (a separate clause in the contract, an appendix to the contract, a supplementary agreement to the contract, or a separate contract is used). At the same time, it has been determined that including anti-corruption clauses in contracts is good business practice, which should be implemented on the basis of an analysis of the other party's behavior (due diligence) and adapted to the specific conditions of the interaction. Specific examples demonstrate certain problems associated with overly broad or ambiguous wording of anti-corruption clauses. Cross-border agreements highlight the need to specify prohibited actions in detail, ensure adequate translation, and take local regulations into account. Particular attention should be paid to the legal consequences of violating such provisions, as there is a risk, among other things, of their improper use for the formal filing of claims for termination of the contract.
Keywords
- corruption; clause; contract; anti-corruption clause; bona fide; business
How to Cite
References
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Copyright (c) 2026 Nadzeya Shakel (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
