On July 10, 2024, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) issued guidance on addressing the risks of diversion of items subject to US export controls to countries or parties of concern (the “Guidance”). The Guidance summarizes mechanisms that BIS uses to notify companies and universities about parties that present diversion risks and that do not appear on its screening lists, as well the level of due diligence BIS expects in…
As regulations evolve and enforcement intensifies, effective documentation of sanctions investigation results has never been more critical. Proper documentation is crucial not only for maintaining legal privileges and the confidentiality of sensitive information, but also for supporting legal defenses in potential regulatory enforcement in the future. Additionally, companies may have an obligation to disclose investigation results to their external auditors, shareholders, and other stakeholders (e.g., transaction counterparties), underscoring the importance of appropriate documentation to ensure…
On May 10, 2024, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Controls (“OFAC”) issued an interim final rule (“IFR”), effective on August 8, 2024, amending the Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations under 31 CFR 510 (the “Regulations”). The IFR includes revisions and clarifications to certain procedures and reporting requirements related to certain OFAC submissions, including reports of blocked property and rejected transactions. In particular, the IFR implements the following revisions and clarifications:…
On March 21, 2024, the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) published a final rule (“Final Rule”) revising and expanding the end-user controls under Part 744 of the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). Specifically, the Final Rule expanded end-user controls applicable to certain persons identified on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (“SDN List”) maintained by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) under various sanctions…