Sanctions
An international perspective.
In today's world of globalised politics, major states and international organisations such as the US, the EU and the UN are increasingly imposing sanctions on those countries whose actions conflict with international law.
Sanctions are imposed to advance the foreign policy and national security objectives of a single country or group of countries. Our sanctions team offers clients an international perspective on the legal impact and practical consequences of these sanctions on their operations around the world.
We advise on issues such as:
- What companies can and can’t do under sanctions regulations and the consequences of any sanctions violations, including investigations and criminal prosecutions.
- The consequences of sanctions on a company’s investments in a sanctioned country, for example claims of 'force majeure' under existing contracts.
- Crisis management, for example getting staff out of a country and communicating with stakeholders.
- Due diligence – analysing potential target companies and their assets to ensure they are not affected by sanctions and drafting the appropriate contractual caveats.
Our teams in the US, UK, Middle East and throughout the EU are vastly experienced and located close to the decision makers, regulators and prosecutors. We offer an international view with people who can advise on local issues.
News and briefings
2021
- January 11th: China Issues Blocking Rules
- January 18th: What Multinational and US Businesses Need to Know about China’s New Blocking Rules
- January 21st: Does the IaaS order represent the emergence of anti-cloud laundering law?
- February 5th: Aviation Cos. Can't Put Trade Compliance On Autopilot – Law360 and Our blogs
- February 21st: Eleventh Circuit Limits Some Claims Under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act
- February 25th: Nicaragua’s Law 842:A Test Case for New US Anti-Money Laundering Authorities
- March 16th: Digital Bank Robbers: Sanctions Risks for Digital Currency Service Companies
- April 9th: US China Trade War, a tipping point
- April 9th: Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain Rule Goes into Effect
- April 20th: Using Cryptocurrency To Evade Sanctions Creates New Risks – Law 360
- April 22nd: US Government Expands Sanctions Targeting Russia, with Focus on Russian Sovereign Debt
- June 7th: Biden Administration Reworks US Sanctions Targeting Chinese Companies’ Securities
- September 28th: OFAC’s Updated Sanctions and Ransomware Advisory Raises the Standard of Care
2018
- 09 Nov 2018 - Iran sanctions re-imposed: What you need to know
- 16 Oct 2018 - Between sanctions exposure and commercial liability: do you have the protection you need?
- 31 Aug 2018 - After UK Nerve Agent Attack, the US State Department Imposes New Sanctions on Russia
- 14 Aug 2018 - CFIUS and Export Control Reforms Have Arrived
- 24 May 2018 - The EU responds: Can the EU Blocking Regulation protect EU-Iran business from renewed US sanctions?
- 09 May 2018 - US withdrawal from the Iran Deal: What happens now?
- 12 Apr 2018 - New US sanctions on Russian oligarchs, officials, and businesses: What’s different now?
2017
- 16 Oct 2017 - What happens to the Iran deal now?
- 25 Sep 2017 - The new US sanctions on North Korea and China’s response: Top 5 takeaways
- 7 August 2017 - Russia, Iran, and North Korea: Practical implications of the new US sanctions law
- 20 March 2017 - ZTE’s $1.19bn settlement highlights export controls and sanctions risks for non-US companies - 20 March 2017
- 07 Feb 2017 - New Act strengthens UK enforcement powers for financial sanctions breaches
- 19 Jan 2017 - Top 10 takeaways from the easing of Sudan sanctions
2016
- 21 Dec 2016 - Reducing Sanctions Risk: Complying Without Over-Complying
- 16 Dec 2016 - Trump and the Implications for U.S. Sanctions on Iran
- 01 Nov 2016 - Recent decision highlights potential criminal exposure of non-US persons and entities under US sanctions laws
- 24 Oct 2016 - US Sanctions update: Enforcement guidance, Myanmar, Iran and Cuba
- 29 July 2016 - Three years in: Status of the EU sanctions against Russia
- 11 May 2016 - Proceed with caution: Lifting or partial relaxation of sanctions brings opportunities and risks
- 27 Apr 2016 - New enforcement powers for financial sanctions breaches proposed
- 20 Apr 2016 - Financial sanctions: More focus, more fines and more complexity
- 18 January 2016 - Iran sanctions relief implemented
- 6 January 2016 - Recent US and EU sanctions developments
2015
- 22 October 2015 - JCPOA: Adoption Day measures issued by the United States and EU
- 13 October 2015 - Russia sanctions: new European Commission guidance
- 17 July 2015 - Lifting sanctions under the new Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
- 15 July 2015 - How sanctions may affect your workplace
- 6 April 2015 - Update on Iran negotiations
- 16 January 2015 - Limited easing of the US embargo of Cuba, as a “first step” under the new US foreign policy on Cuba
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Blog posts
Our team
Nabeel Yousef Partner
Washington, DC
Dr. Stephan Denk Partner
Vienna
Stephanie Brown Cripps Counsel
New York
William Robinson Partner
London, Hong Kong
Sebastian Lawson Partner
London
Pervez Akhtar Partner
Dubai
Xin Liu Lead, China Disputes
Hong Kong, Beijing
Ignacio Borrego Of Counsel
Madrid
Ana Calvo Senior Associate
Madrid
Sarah Parkes Partner
London
Will Thomas QC Partner
London