WorldSmart: The Extraordinary Sanctions Against Russia - What Happens Next?
In this weekly update, we summarise the most notable updates in the UK sanctions world. ...more
Hughes Hubbard’s “Sanctions in a Snap” provides a clear and concise summary of recent developments from the United States' Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the European Union and its Member States. January 2026:...more
Being an aspiring commercial lawyer often means being confronted by complex, often abstract, concepts leading to an often impenetrable wall of jargon for students and trainees....more
Highlights from January 2026 include OFAC authorizations for certain downstream activities involving Venezuelan oil, negotiations for the eventual acquisition of Lukoil’s international assets and a counternarcotics...more
When a bank tells you your funds are “OFAC-blocked,” it means they believe U.S. sanctions law requires them to freeze the money, or other property, until there’s a clear legal reason to release it. In reality, getting blocked...more
The U.S. military operation on January 3, 2026, and the subsequent extraction of Nicolás Maduro, has significantly shifted regional dynamics in the Western Hemisphere....more
While the recent apprehension of Nicolás Maduro signals a potential shift in US-Venezuela relations, foundational sanctions on Venezuela remain intact. Companies should continue to prioritize compliance, as the US Treasury...more
Hughes Hubbard’s “Sanctions in a Snap” provides a clear and concise summary of recent developments from the United States' Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the European Union and its Member States. The U.S. edition...more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently announced an $11.5 million settlement of an enforcement action against a U.S.-based private equity and infrastructure investment firm (the...more
Bottom Line - Repeal of the Caesar Act eliminates broad sanctions regimes on certain business activities in or with Syria. While this creates new commercial opportunities in Syria, other US sanctions, designations, and...more
In this weekly update, we summarise the most notable updates in the UK sanctions world. Russia Sanctions...more
On December 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) announced an $11,485,352 settlement with a Chicago-based private equity firm (the “Company”) to resolve alleged violations...more
In its continuing response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. government has deployed a whole-of-government approach to impose sanctions and tighter export controls on Russia and Belarus....more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently announced two separate enforcement actions against IPI Partners, LLC and Gracetown, Inc. for violations of Ukraine-/Russia-related...more
For human resources and technology teams, the talent and recruitment landscape is already a challenging and competitive environment. Extensive steps are taken to ensure the right candidate is sourced to meet the needs of your...more
On October 22, 2025, President Trump imposed new sanctions targeting Russia’s oil and gas sector in response to a “lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.” This is the first major escalation...more
In August, Bracewell discussed the evolving impact of UK and EU sanctions on corporations in the energy and infrastructure sectors. In a significant escalation, in October, the UK, US and EU changed the landscape again by...more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Oct. 24, 2025, designated the Republic of Colombia's sitting president, Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego (Petro), pursuant to Executive Order (EO)...more
In a notable sign of enhanced U.S. pressure on Russia concerning the ongoing war in Ukraine, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced significant new sanctions on October 22,...more
On October 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) has issued full blocking sanctions on Open Joint Stock Company Rosneft Oil Company (“Rosneft”) and Lukoil OAO (“Lukoil”)...more
On October 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) announced the immediate imposition of full blocking sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (“E.O.”) 14024 against Russian oil...more
In this weekly update, we summarise the most notable updates in the UK sanctions world....more
Each quarter, I send my clients a trade compliance update, highlighting important developments over the last few months and summarizing key points for important sanctions programs. In addition to a variety of ad hoc...more
Join Lowenstein Sandler and Santamarina + Steta for a timely webinar exploring the legal and compliance implications of recent U.S. Treasury actions under the FEND Off Fentanyl Act. The session, featuring Lowenstein's Robert...more