In a recent decision, the English High Court has demonstrated its willingness to interpret contractual provisions broadly so as to enable performance in circumstances where the imposition of sanctions on a counterparty...more
The Singapore High Court recently ruled that a party to a Singapore law-governed contract was justified in relying on a sanctions clause in the contract to refuse payment to the counterparty in an effort to avoid breaching...more
On 13 July 2022, the National Economic Crime Centre, a multi-agency unit in the National Crime Agency (NCA), and the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, working in conjunction with law enforcement and financial...more
As the world watches in horror as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to unfold, the UK, as well as its allies and partners, has introduced a number of sanctions and trade restrictions in response. In this Quarterly...more
4/28/2022
/ Bribery ,
Central Bank of Russia ,
Criminal Convictions ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Memorandum of Understanding ,
NCSC ,
Popular ,
Russia ,
Sanctions ,
Serious Fraud Office (SFO) ,
UK ,
Ukraine
At a time when sanctions are very much in the spotlight, the UK government has proposed amendments to its sanctions regime in order to introduce a ‘strict civil liability’ test for sanctions breaches....more
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK government has brought forward legislation that aims to crack down on foreign owners laundering dirty money through UK property and make it easier for law enforcement...more
The UK government has widened the scope of its Russia sanctions regulations in anticipation of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The amendments to the existing Russia sanctions regulations significantly broaden the definition of...more
In the latest turn of events in the seemingly never-ending political saga of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the U.S. House of Representatives (the “House”), via an amendment to the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act...more
10/7/2021
/ CAATSA ,
Foreign Entities ,
Germany ,
Joe Biden ,
National Interest Waiver ,
NDAA ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Pipelines ,
Russia ,
Sanctions ,
Trump Administration ,
US State Departments
In too many ways to count, 2020 was an extraordinary year. As we move into 2021 with optimism for an end to the pandemic and better days ahead, we understand that the activity last year of the U.S. Department of the...more
2/16/2021
/ China ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Exports ,
Foreign Financial Institutions (FFI) ,
Iran Sanctions ,
Maritime Transport ,
NDAA ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Penalties ,
Pentagon ,
Pipelines ,
Popular ,
Ransomware ,
Russia ,
SDN List ,
Trump Administration
On October 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of State (“State”) broadened, yet again, the scope of sanctions applicable to Russian energy export pipeline projects, most notably the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a nearly finished...more
Given the magnitude of current events gripping the country and the world, many otherwise noteworthy governmental actions are passing largely unnoticed. One such under-the-radar action occurred on July 22, 2020, when the U.S....more
As the new crown virus is spreading and there have been many demonstrations that "blacks are also fate," the US Congress has increased its work during the election year, threatening to strengthen sanctions against China and...more
Earlier this week, on July 15, 2020, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paved the way for enhanced sanctions on the Russian Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream projects by announcing that the Trump Administration is removing an...more
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter demonstrations, the U.S. Congress has stepped up its election year efforts by threatening heightened sanctions on China and Russia. The latest such bill, the Hong Kong...more
7/10/2020
/ Autonomy ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Hong Kong ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Protests ,
Russia ,
Sanctions ,
SDN List ,
Secretary of State ,
Trump Administration
As it nears the end of the calendar and legislative year, Congress is preparing to take long-awaited action to kill Russia’s Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream natural gas pipeline projects – months before Nord Stream 2’s...more
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has a well-earned reputation in the sanctions bar for ruining weekends. The agency responsible for implementing and enforcing U.S. economic sanctions has...more
Back in February, we told you about the Defending American Security from Kremlin Aggression Act, or “DASKA,” a bipartisan effort to impose new sanctions on Russia. Interest in action against the Kremlin has only increased...more