Sanctions

Advising on how to manage international sanctions risk

We have a significant amount of global experience working on sanctions and related issues. We have been involved in advising on a number of sanctions regimes, assisting clients to understand and comply with complex regimes such as Iran, Russia, Myanmar, Libya, and Syria. Our UK and EU practices have significant experience of working with the EU and UK blocking legislation.

Our team has been involved in a number of sanctions and related investigations, and sits within our Corporate Crime practice, where it can draw on a range of investigatory and criminal law expertise. Our team has dealt with cases before OFAC, OFSI, HM Revenue & Customs, the UK National Crime Agency, including both voluntary disclosures of breach and investigations.

Our diverse client base allows us to apply our expertise in this developing area to many sectors, including financial services, retail, commodities, oil and gas, infrastructure, telecommunications and media and transport.

Experts in international sanctions

We support our clients by assisting with the preparation of sanctions compliance policies, and accompanying staff training products; advising on whether transactions are permitted under sanctions legislation, and the consequences of sanctions breaches; advising on contractual drafting to take account of sanctions risk, both in commercial contracts and loan agreements; and advising on dispute resolution matters arising from the imposition of sanctions. We can also can provide audit services to check on, and improve existing programmes.

Trusted advice from our team of experts

We constantly monitor legal and political developments, allowing our cross-practice team to give quick and cost-effective advice to clients on the impact of international sanctions on their businesses.

Experience across a range of jurisdictions

We have advised clients on financial and trade sanctions imposed by the United Nations, European Union, United Kingdom, United States and Australia. Our experience includes advising:

• Various multinational companies in a range of industry sectors on the preparation of sanctions compliance policies and training programs;
• A Japanese multinational on a sanctions settlement with a US regulator;
• A UK financial services company on the impact of EU sanctions on Russia on proposed advisory work;
• A UK FTSE 100 company under investigation by the UK National Crime Agency for breach of EU sanctions on Myanmar;
• An oil major on its preparation and planning for a likely EU sanctions regime, and working with that major to shape legislation to minimise overall impact on EU jobs;
• A European bank on the effect of the EU and US sanctions on Russia on its ability to issue a letter of credit;
• A European construction company on potential exposure to EU and US sanctions arising from an LNG project in Russia;
• A UK financial services company in relation to the potential sale of banking assets to Iranian nationals in the light of EU sanctions on Iran;
• An Asian energy company on proposed transactions for the purchase of oil/petrochemical products from Iran, and sale of gasoline to Iran, following sanctions relief; and
• A listed Australian company with global operations, on potential international sanctions arising from contracts for the provision of services in the Palestinian territories.