The Bribery Act will finally come into force on 1^stJuly 2011 after a long delay. The Government has published its long awaited guidance on how to comply with the Act. Reception to the guidance has been ‘mixed’ to say the least.

When the draft guidance was originally published last year a number of business commentators voiced concerns that the Act was going to create an oppressive regime for businesses e.g. going as far as outlawing corporate hospitality and putting British businesses on the back foot when competing abroad.