In a sweeping, coordinated effort across federal agencies, the US government has taken a giant leap forward to prevent access to data that could be exploited to the detriment of national security. On February 28, 2024,...more
On February 28, 2024, the Biden administration announced new cybersecurity-related measures, including an executive order (EO) and advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), intended to address the bulk flow of Americans’...more
The sanctions world experienced another action-packed year in 2023. Sanctions against Russia dominated the year in terms of the number of designations and new restrictions, and the attacks perpetrated by Hamas in Israel on 7...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
October saw two major enforcement actions involving Russia. First, three individuals were indicted for facilitating the export of controlled U.S.-origin electronics to Russia. Second, the president of a U.S. steel trading...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 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
The centrality of international trade laws in the development and execution of U.S. foreign policy has never been more evident than in 2022. Companies that have not invested in international trade compliance programs are...more
Uphold is a California-based money service business. Uphold agreed to pay OFAC $72,230 to resolve multiple sanctions program violations....more
2022 was an unprecedented year for U.S. sanctions and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). While the sweeping new U.S. sanctions imposed against Russia and Belarus in unparalleled...more
Russia - Former Special Agent in Charge of the FBI New York Counterintelligence Division Charged with Violating U.S. Sanctions on Russia (DOJ) Those involved. Charles McGonigal, former Special Agent in Charge of the FBI...more
The U.S. Government is continuing its frequent and highly visible use of denied party lists as an important tool in administering the export control laws. Each of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Office of...more
The US Treasury Department has released its 2021 Sanctions Review (the “Review”), which describes the US sanctions framework and the agency’s future sanctions priorities. The Review reflects on the evolution over two decades...more
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) recently announced its "apparent" need for public comment on key aspects of a mechanism that would license or preclear certain information and communications technology and services...more
Back in May 2019, the Trump Administration issued Executive Order 13873, which was meant to police the use of certain information and communications technology and services (ICTS) purchased from "foreign adversaries." Then,...more
A new rule effective March 22, 2021 establishes a process for the US Department of Commerce to review commercial transactions between US and foreign parties for certain information and communications technology and services...more
This is the second in our First 100 Days series examining important trends in white collar law and investigations in the early days of the Biden administration. Our previous entry discussed SEC enforcement. Up next,...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
Despite a shift in the sanction landscape, it will take time for enforcement activity to catch up. As a result, organizations should regularly examine their exposure with business partners around the globe and consult with...more
n late January 2021, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued an Interim Final Rule (Interim Rule) that would empower the Department to prohibit, mitigate and unwind certain categories of transactions with certain foreign...more
The Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) Rule, if implemented by the Biden Administration, would significantly impact companies that have an international nexus in a number of different sectors,...more
Turning to the business of exports from the United States, the next section is a must-read for any company doing business in the United States or from the United States. Or for that matter, any company competing with affected...more
This quarter, the U.S. announced new sanctions and trade restrictions on China in response to its perceived intrusions on Hong Kong’s autonomy and reported human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The Trump Administration acted...more
This quarter, the U.S. announced new sanctions and trade restrictions on China in response to its recent encroachments on Hong Kong and its reported mistreatment of ethnic minorities. OFAC continued to target shipping...more