The Office of Foreign Assets Control’s (OFAC) settlements in the second half of 2023 serve as cautionary tales for organizations navigating the complex landscape of international sanctions. These cases offer valuable insights...more
If there is one issue that is repeated over and over (and over), it is third-party risks. Over the last ten years, we have witnessed an explosion in anti-corruption enforcement around the world. And with this enforcement...more
As peak summer holiday season approaches, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) continues to remind the private sector of the importance of strict economic sanctions compliance. OFAC...more
Throughout 2020, the U.S. government continued to expand its trade-related sanctions programs and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) published 16 sanctions enforcement actions. We...more
Last week, the United States expanded sanctions on Iran’s financial sector by designating 18 major Iranian banks as Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) and authorizing additional future sanctions on the Iranian financial...more
On 24 September 2020, the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) announced a settlement with Keysight Technologies, Inc. (Keysight) for sanctions violations committed by its former subsidiary,...more
On 27 February 2020, the Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC) issued General License (GL) 8 authorizing certain humanitarian trade transactions involving the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) that are otherwise prohibited under...more
ANTICORRUPTION DEVELOPMENTS - Telecommunications Company Fined $12 Million for FCPA Violations - On August 29, 2019, The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) instituted ceaseand-desist proceedings against...more
On June 13, 2019, OFAC announced a settlement with Expedia Group, Inc. for violations of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (“CACR”). (Available here). Expedia’s foreign subsidiaries assisted more than 2,200 individuals...more
On November 5, 2018, the United States reimposed all remaining nuclear-related sanctions against Iran that it had previously lifted in connection with its implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in...more
On 5 November 2018 the United States re-imposed the remaining nuclear-related secondary sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) against Iran that previously had...more
ANTICORRUPTION DEVELOPMENTS - Petrobras Settles with U.S. Authorities Over Alleged FCPA Violations - On September 27, 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)...more
The United States has begun re-imposing nuclear-related sanctions with respect to Iran in connection with the expiration of the 90-day wind-down period announced alongside the United States' 8 May 2018 withdrawal from the...more
ANTICORRUPTION DEVELOPMENTS - SEC Proposes Amendments to Whistleblower Award Program - On June 28, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed amendments to its whistleblower award process for the first...more
In furtherance of President Trump’s 8 May 2018 announcement that the United States would withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal—the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—on 27 June 2018, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s...more
On May 8, 2018, President Trump announced that the United States is pulling out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (“JCPOA”). The announcement will result in the reimposition of the sanctions that were lifted or waived...more
On December 12, a key deadline passed for Congress to reimpose nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran, shifting the pressure back to the executive branch and setting new deadlines that will be critical to the fate of the...more
• This enforcement action highlights the heightened sanctions compliance and enforcement risk that companies face when engaging third-party consultants to perform due diligence on counterparties. U.S. persons must make clear...more
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) announced a $415,350 settlement agreement with COSL Singapore Ltd. (“COSL”). The parties settled a potential civil liability claim...more
U.S. District Court Judge Richard M. Berman denied a motion to dismiss the indictment in the closely followed criminal prosecution of Reza Zarrab, a Turkish/Iranian businessman charged with conspiring to evade U.S. economic...more
With the rise of OFAC Sanctions enforcement and compliance issues, companies have to devote significant resources to following changes in OFAC Sanctions. Over the last few years, the US government has significantly altered...more