When “The Devil Made Me Do It” Is Not a Defense: Lessons in AI Governance and Organizational Oversight from an SDNY Decision
As companies increasingly integrate generative and agentic AI into core business functions, a May 7, 2026 decision from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York1 highlights several fundamental guardrails for corporate legal and compliance departments to consider. Although the case arose in the context of government decision-making, the opinion carries broader implications for any entity that embeds generative AI in its processes.
“Don’t Wait”: DOJ Criminal Division Chief Signals Faster Disclosure Expectations and Uptick in Corporate Enforcement
On May 7, 2026, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva used his first major speech to the compliance community since DOJ’s March 2026 rollout of its department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy (CEP) to deliver a clear message: corporate enforcement activity is expected to increase, companies should self-disclose misconduct early—even before completing internal investigations—and robust compliance programs remain central to DOJ’s expectations.
Clayton Addresses the Uncertainty Surrounding SDNY’s Self-Disclosure Program
On April 14, 2026, at a conference hosted by New York University School of Law’s Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement, Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), publicly addressed whether the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s recently announced Department-wide Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Program (CEP) supersedes SDNY’s own Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure and Cooperation Program (the SDNY Program). Clayton stated that the two policies are not in tension and that his Office continues to invite companies to self-report misconduct under the SDNY Program.
Matthew Podolsky Joins as Partner in Sidley’s White Collar Defense and Investigations and Commercial Litigation and Disputes Practices in New York
Sidley is pleased to announce that Matthew Podolsky has joined the firm as a partner in its White Collar Defense and Investigations practice and its Commercial Litigation and Disputes practice in New York. He joins Sidley after a distinguished career as a federal prosecutor, most recently serving as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
