Monthly Archives: May 2021

Jones Day Talks: Operation Varsity Blues and the Need for Internal Controls at Academic Institutions

Jones Day Talks®: Operation Varsity Blues and the Need for Internal Controls at Academic Institutions

Investigations & White Collar Defense, , , , , , , , , , ,

As the infamous college admissions scandal unraveled, it became clear that aside from the illegal activities of the defendants – who included the principal of an admissions consulting firm, coaches and staff at certain universities, and the parents of college applicants – the case exposed potential problem areas for academic institutions related to their compliance protocols, internal controls, and the overall monitoring of the admissions process.

“Operation Varsity Blues,” was handled by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, under the leadership of then-U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling. Now an Investigations & White Collar partner based in Jones Day’s Boston Office, Mr. Lelling shares his perspectives on what made the Operation Varsity Blues investigation so successful and impactful and explains the lessons and insights universities, colleges and other organizations should consider in reacting to this scandal and preparing to avoid the next.

Read the full transcript on the Jones Day website.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Cyber Risks: A False Sense of Security EPISODE 1

JONES DAY TALKS®: Cyber Risks: A False Sense of Security – Episode 1

Cybersecurity, , , ,

Cybersecurity risk is evolving and expanding. Traditionally, cybersecurity risk has been equated with cyber attacks and associated legal consequences. That risk is undoubtedly real: All internet connected systems remain vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated, persistent threat actors, including nation states and well-funded criminal organizations, who can circumvent even robust defenses to intrude into systems and expose companies to a wide variety of regulatory investigations and litigation. But companies increasingly face cybersecurity legal risk even absent a data breach. Emerging theories of liability – largely arising from inconsistencies between representations companies make about their cybersecurity and their actual cybersecurity posture – are presenting new, substantial civil and potentially criminal legal exposures for companies.

In the first installment of a multi-part JONES DAY TALKS® series, partners Lisa Ropple, Justin Herdman, and Grayson Yeargin discuss today’s rapidly growing and changing cybersecurity requirements, and the potential legal consequences of not meeting those obligations.

Read the full transcript on the Jones Day website.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS