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…
For the second week of our Annual Compliance Conference, we discussed key trade compliance issues impacting our clients globally. Specifically, we discussed the trade policy response of the US, EU and U.K. to ever increasing geopolitical disruption, global strategies for handling sanctions regulators and enforcement, and key global sanctions and export controls developments. Trade policy response to geopolitical disruption – China and beyond Tuesday 7 May SPEAKERS: Tristan Grimmer (Partner, London), Sylwia Lis (Partner, Washington…
The winds of change continue to swirl in the world of international sanctions enforcement. Governments around the globe are imposing new sanctions at a rapid pace and ramping up their efforts to crack down on violations. At Baker McKenzie, the Global Sanctions Investigations Group understands that navigating the ever-evolving sanctions landscape can feel like walking a tightrope. One misstep and your company could be facing material fines, reputational damage, and even criminal charges. That’s why…