The UK’s sanctions regimes remain dynamic as they continue to respond to geopolitical changes. In recent weeks, the UK has enhanced its Russia sanctions, despite the uncertain direction of the international sanctions on...more
On March 20, 2025, the U.K.’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) announced that, in accordance with section 146 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017 (PACA), a monetary penalty of £465,000 had been imposed...more
On 21 March 2025, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) published its annual review for 2023-2024 period. The report highlights a number of key developments in the agency’s work. Importantly, the data...more
AT A GLANCE - 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...more
In the past year, the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) actively has focused on sanctions enforcement efforts, particularly with respect to Russia-related measures (Russia sanctions), including by...more
In this weekly update, we summarise the most notable updates in the UK sanctions world....more
In late August 2024, the UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (“OFSI”), a department within HM Treasury, imposed a monetary penalty of £15,000 on Integral Concierge Services Limited (“ICSL”)—a UK-based property...more
On 12 September 2024, the UK Government published the regulatory framework providing the scope and powers of the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI), the authority responsible for the implementation and...more
I. US SANCTIONS - US Department of the Treasury Sanctions Almost 300 Individuals and Entities: On February 23, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned almost 300 individuals...more
For over eighteen years the “who’s who” in the global sanctions’ community has attended 18th Annual Flagship Conference on Economic Sanctions Enforcement and Compliance– which is widely regarded as the premier conference for...more
In October, the Court of Appeal suggested all companies operating in Russia could be considered to be sanctioned under UK law because they are potentially controlled by President Putin. This caused understandable alarm to...more
Companies faced with the decision of whether to voluntarily self-report sanctions breaches to law enforcement or sanctions enforcement agencies in the UK and the US can take some measure of comfort from recent comments made...more
The year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been marked by the development of a multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency sanctions regime in the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union. Although coordination...more
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has updated its ‘enforcement and monetary penalties for breaches of financial sanctions’ guidance, which was last updated in June 2022. ...more
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, so too does Russia’s isolation from the West. Member nations of the Group of Seven (G7)—the United States (U.S.), Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom...more
On 30 August 2022, two new statutory instruments that amend existing sanctions legislation and target cryptoasset businesses came into force. The Regulations extend reporting obligations under the UK’s sanctions regime to...more
In their June 2022 report “The cost of complacency: illicit finance and the war in Ukraine”, the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee (the “FAC”) condemned the UK Government’s historic lack of commitment to tackling...more
On 14 October 2021, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (“OFSI”) published its annual review for the financial year 2020-2021 (the “Annual Review”). Under the leadership of its new Director, Giles Thomson,...more
Much of the world’s focus is on the COVID-19 pandemic, and rightfully so, but sanctions regulators also have their gazes fixed on another issue: the maritime industry. On May 14 2020, we saw the U.S. Departments of State and...more
On March 31, 2016, the U.K. launched the new Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) within HM Treasury. OFSI, which assumes the financial sanctions responsibilities previously carried out by HM Treasury’s Asset...more