Sanctions law

Sanctions regimes are complex and continually evolving in response to the geopolitical landscape. Businesses, particularly those operating globally, face considerable challenges in ensuring sanctions compliance given the threat of criminal and financial penalties amid potentially conflicting regimes. Frequently the issues that arise require urgent attention to avoid the risk of breaches while upholding commercial relationships and the day to day operations of a company.

Our team of specialist sanctions lawyers maintains strong working familiarity with all relevant sanctions legislation and is well-positioned to provide those companies affected with expert legal advice and support which is grounded in their corporate realities and objectives. It is critical for organisations to take proactive steps to protect themselves by ensuring their practices are compliant with sanctions regimes, thereby avoiding exposure to significant financial, political, regulatory and reputational risk. In light of an ever-changing situation, these practices must be kept under careful review.  

Sanctions regimes typically include both financial and trade measures, incorporating sanctions against individuals, companies, national bodies and sometimes even countries, as well as wider trade sanctions which target both specific goods and items (often identified by their commodity code) or wider categories of goods and items. While there may be limited exceptions to the sanctions, frequently the only way to continue dealing with a sanctioned individual, entity or item is to seek a licence from the relevant regulator.  

Our lawyers provide expert advice and assistance to individuals and businesses impacted by sanctions and deliver clear and comprehensive guidance in relation to the applicability of sanctions regimes and the options available to ensure compliance. We have extensive experience in advising clients in relation to specific transactions, interpreting relevant legislation and identifying areas of risk, dealing with regulators, and supporting on the implementation of compliance programmes. 

We have a dedicated global sanctions team for shipping, trade and energy supplying timely legal advice based on the practical aspects of how the industry operates and within the legal framework to mitigate potential risks. We advise across different cargo types such as oil and petroleum products, with a remit that includes trading/commodities brokering, financing, insurance, flagging, and customs brokering. Our energy lawyers, many of whom are multi-qualified, act for some of the biggest players from commodities traders, mining companies, contractors, operators and financiers to governments, oil companies, service providers and independent players.

We are also regularly involved in providing more generalist sanctions law advice, briefing clients on the jurisdictional scope and impact of different sanctions regimes and presenting a broader perspective on their legal and commercial implications. By offering practical and targeted guidance, we enable our clients to manage their risk more effectively, ultimately providing peace of mind as well as protection against sanctions-related litigation.  

Our sanctions lawyers have a strong global network of trusted partners, enabling us to coordinate complicated advice which spans multiple jurisdictions and provide around-the-clock, immediate support.