In this weekly update, we summarise the most notable updates in the UK sanctions world. If you have any questions in respect of any of the developments set out below, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our London...more
USCIS announced the extension and redesignation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months from April 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025. The redesignation is based on the continuing civil war and the accompanying...more
Florida enacted Senate Bill (SB) 264 (Chapter 2023-33, Laws of Florida) in May 2023 to limit select persons from "foreign countries of concern" from owning, having a controlling interest in or acquiring an interest in certain...more
The Florida Department of Commerce (Department) on Sept. 20, 2023, published proposed rules interpreting Florida's law limiting "foreign principals" from "foreign countries of concern" – China, Russia, Iran, North Korea,...more
Last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of Florida signed a new law that would prohibit people who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and whose "domicile" is in China from purchasing certain real property in the state....more
On May 30, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions, pursuant to Executive Order 13582 and the Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (Caesar Act), against two Syrian...more
On May 8, 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 264, creating Florida Statutes sections 692.201 through 692.205, which prohibits the direct or indirect ownership of various categories of real estate by...more
During K2 Integrity’s 14 March webinar, panelists Chip Poncy and Mohammed Alaa Ghanem discussed the assistance required in Syria and Türkiye in the wake of the 6 February earthquakes; gave an overview of sanctions imposed on...more
On 6 February 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit southern Turkiye and northern Syria. The earthquake and subsequent aftershocks devasted a region already destabilized by one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. This...more
On February 21, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued sanctions compliance guidance for authorized transactions related to Syrian earthquake disaster relief. The OFAC Compliance...more
In rapid succession during the morning of February 6, Eastern Turkey and its environs were hit by first, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake and, then, a magnitude 7.5 quake. Horrific images showing high rise buildings collapsing,...more
On February 9, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Syria General License (GL) 23 to authorize, for 180 days, all transactions related to earthquake relief efforts that would...more
Syrian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has been extended and redesignated until March 31, 2024. Those already holding Syrian TPS must apply for the extension of their status and employment authorization (if desired)...more
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) issued General License (“GL”) No. 22 on May 12, 2022, authorizing transactions that are ordinarily incident and necessary to activities that occur in specified, non-regime held...more
On 13 December 2021, the EU imposed sanctions against the Wagner Group, a private military entity based in Russia, as well as related entities and individuals, citing human rights abuses and destabilising activities in...more
Compliance teams looking to stay ahead of the changing landscape need to be up to date on the latest developments. Join us for Global Compliance Updates in collaboration with the DIFC Academy, on 2–3 November 2021. This...more
The First Bank of Romania and JC Flowers agreed to pay OFAC $862,318 to settle violations of Iran and Syria Sanctions Programs. First Bank is owned by its U.S. parent, JC Flowers & Company. ...more
This week, I received a post idea from Rutsel Silvestre J. Martha, of Lindeborg Counsellors at Law. Mr. Martha is a highly respected expert on international law and his 2010 book, The Legal Foundations of INTERPOL, was one of...more
Syrian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has been extended until September 30, 2022. DHS announced that the 60-day registration and re-registration period for Syrian TPS and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) was to...more
Companies should be prepared to conduct additional due diligence for any transactions involving entities in the countries enumerated in this rule. In an interim rule published on, January 15, 2020, the Department of...more
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control continues to focus enforcement activities on digital currency companies. This focus is likely to increase given recent comments by Janet Yellen, the head of the...more
In the new Biden Administration, companies should expect aggressive enforcement of trade sanctions. At the same time, in response to Russian aggression and the Solar Winds cyber-attack, OFAC is likely to implement new and...more
The EU has recently made certain notable EU asset freeze designations in relation to Belarus1 and Syria, focusing on various government officials – including President Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus - The Belarusian and...more
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and the U.S. Coast Guard issued a global advisory (the “Advisory”), providing information and...more
Hong Kong Updates and Alerts - New Restrictions on Exports to Hong Kong – License Exceptions for Hong Kong Suspended - On June 29, 2020, the State Department announced that the U.S. will end the export of U.S.-origin...more