Baker McKenzie will be hosting a seminar on 8 October 2024 in Dubai as part of our EMEA Russia Sanctions Briefings. We will be joined for the seminar by representatives from our Global Sanctions Investigations Group, including from our US and London offices. The seminars will focus on the multijurisdictional sanctions challenges facing financial institutions and other companies in the Gulf, in relation to the US, UK, EU and UAE sanctions regimes, particularly against Russia.…
On 12 September, the UK Government announced new powers for the civil enforcement of trade sanctions pursuant to the Trade, Aircraft and Shipping Sanctions (Civil Enforcement) Regulations 2024, the “Trade Enforcement Regulations”). From 10 October 2024, the Government will be able to impose penalties of up to GBP 1 million or 50% of the value of breaches of trade sanctions (whichever is greater) in relation to certain breaches of UK trade sanctions. The new powers…
On 11 June 2024, the UK Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in the case of Celestial Aviation Services Limited v UniCredit Bank GmbH (London Branch) [2024] EWCA Civ 628. In summary, the Court of Appeal determined that, in the context of payment obligations under standby letters of credit (“LCs”), sanctions measures relating to financing the supply of restricted items can apply retrospectively as well as prospectively, significantly widening the scope of application of…
The Middle East is an increasingly important jurisdiction for Western governments from a Russia sanctions foreign policy perspective, as there is a perception that increased trade flows between the Middle East and Russia means that Western sanctions are effectively being circumvented. Companies in the Middle East may have concerns about triggering EU / UK / US sanctions jurisdiction, or being directly designated by Western governments for engaging in activities deemed to be contrary to the…