In this weekly update, we summarise the most notable updates in the UK sanctions world...more
On 27 September 2024, the UK’s financial sanctions regulator, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), announced that it had issued its first monetary penalty for a breach of UK financial sanctions imposed...more
Welcome to the UK Regulation Round Up, a regular bulletin highlighting the latest developments in UK and EU financial services regulation....more
On 22 February 2024, shortly before the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK government published its first sanctions strategy (the Strategy). The Strategy explains the UK’s use and implementation of...more
On 6 October 2023, the Court of Appeal handed down judgment in the case of Mints & ors v PJSC National Bank Trust & anor [2023] EWCA 1332. The judgment confirmed that the UK’s sanctions do not preclude the English courts...more
On 6 October 2023, the UK Court of Appeal (the Court of Appeal) delivered its judgment in Mints v. PJSC National Bank Trust and PJSC Bank Otkritie.1 In its decision, the Court of Appeal confirmed that English courts can enter...more
Sanctions and the systems and controls companies have in place to comply with them seem to be back in the spotlight. In addition to guidance recently published by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, a number of recent...more
The U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has published a revised General License under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The License was first published on February 25, 2022, and allows...more
The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) have announced they will change the structure and format of the UK Sanctions List and OFSI’s...more
In the final Quarterly Review of 2021, we reflect on a year that has seen the UK acclimatise to life outside of the EU, whilst, like the rest of the world, contending with the difficulties brought on by the global coronavirus...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
During the course of the last three months, there has been a significant focus on the activity of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). The SFO has achieved its objectives in some instances; see, for example, our article below...more
There will soon be a new regime in place in the UK for punishing individuals or businesses that breach financial sanctions. In March 2016 the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) was formed, as part of the...more
There have been a number of key developments in the European Union (“EU”) and United Kingdom (“UK”) sanctions regimes in relation to Russia, Syria, Iraq and numerous other jurisdictions, since our last update in July 2016. ...more
The new UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), part of HM Treasury (HMT) opened on 31 March 2016. This may signal a shift towards more aggressive enforcement of the financial sanctions regime in the UK. ...more