International Sanctions

Our sanctions lawyers are litigation lawyers with considerable experience in defending individuals and companies where there is a suspected breach of sanctions or in civil claims involving underlying sanctions compliance issues. They use this experience to give proactive advice to manage the risks international sanctions impose on business, international trade, and the provision of professional and financial services.

We provide practical business advisory support on the steps they can take now to comply with sanctions in a way that minimises the impact on their business and protects them from the risk of criminal or civil liability. Where a report to, or licence from, a relevant public authority is required, we assist clients in drafting the necessary documents to ensure they meet relevant obligations and achieve the needs of their business.

This includes proactive engagement with the principal UK sanctions regulators, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) and other key overseas regulators, including the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). 

Featured experience

• Advising on the impact of sanctions globally on the reinsurance of a policy written by a South American based insurer, involving Government agencies designated under US sanctions regimes and also subject to UK and EU trade control
• Advising entities regarding aviation insurance and reinsurance business in the London market, including consideration of the prohibitions and reporting obligations arising from UK and EU financial sanctions in respect of aviation insurance and reinsurance
• Assisting a major financial services firm to conduct an internal investigation into the operation of its sanctions screening practices, and broader financial crime systems and controls
• Assisting a global franchise business on a wholesale review of its exposure to international sanctions in respect of Russia
• Advising a major real estate business in respect of its exposure to international sanctions, connected with the leasing of retail units to commercial enterprises
• Advising a major UK commercial and residential estate agency in respect of its exposure to financial and trade sanctions across its business, with a focus on its 'prime residential' and commercial property streams
• Advising a US headquartered financial services firm regarding ongoing engagement with regulators, following the identification of payments made to entities subject to UK sanctions in respect of Libya