Overview
Economic sanctions regulations have evolved at an unprecedented pace in recent years, and there is no indication that the pace of change is likely to slow in the near future, due to governments’ increased reliance upon sanctions as a foreign policy tool. In parallel, the U.S. Commerce Department is in the process of identifying additional categories of technology that will be subject to new export control restrictions, the result of which will be a significant expansion of the U.S. export control regime. These and other regulatory developments have paved the way for continued, aggressive enforcement of economic sanctions and export control laws in pursuit of national policy objectives.
Enforcement actions for violations of economic sanctions regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) within the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the Department of Commerce, and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) administered by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) within the Department of State have increased dramatically in the last few years. Many of these prosecutions and enforcement actions have involved some of the world’s largest and most respected companies and financial institutions, and the trend of aggressive enforcement of U.S. trade laws is likely to continue. Because of their broad extraterritorial application, sanctions and export control are relevant to virtually all businesses whose operations or activities involve an international component. Companies and other firms involved with international business transactions must understand and comply with complex and ever-evolving sanctions regulations as well as the EAR and ITAR, or face the risk of investigation and prosecution.
Ropes & Gray offers a top-tier team of attorneys who advise clients, including international conglomerates, freight forwarders, private equity firms and their portfolio companies, and financial institutions, as well as their officers and directors, on all aspects of economic sanctions and export control regulations. Our practice ranges from helping clients develop compliance programs to providing regulatory advice to conducting internal investigations and defending clients facing civil and criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions.Experience
- Representing an international freight forwarding company in an internal investigation concerning potential OFAC violations by foreign subsidiaries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
- Advising a private equity client on the acquisition of an International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) registrant.
- Assisting a U.S.-based multinational oil and gas company to assess and improve its compliance program, including with respect to U.S. economic sanctions and export control.
- Advised a U.S. private equity firm in connection with the OFAC/EU sanctions implications of a potential investment in a Korean energy company, including on the potential application of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.
- Performed a comprehensive deemed export risk assessment of a multinational biopharmaceutical company, including a review of the company’s technology control plan, classification procedures, human resources policies and intra-company system processes.
- Obtained a favorable resolution with BIS in connection with a voluntary disclosure of certain exports of sequencing equipment by a U.S. biotechnology product development company in connection with the Russia/Ukraine and Crimea sanctions regulations.
- Representing an international medical device company in responding to an OFAC subpoena concerning sales to Iran and a BIS voluntary disclosure regarding sales into Syria.
- Advising an asset management firm on state law prohibitions on investment in companies doing business in embargoed countries.
- Representing an international freight forwarding company in responding to a BIS and U.S. Attorney’s Office criminal investigation into potential export control violations concerning the shipment of laptop computers to Iran.
- Represented an international conglomerate in connection with potential OFAC and BIS violations by foreign subsidiaries in Europe and Latin America shipping to Cuba.
- Advised a privately owned investment manager on compliance with OFAC and BIS regulations, as well as risks associated with proposed transactions around the globe.
- Advised a number of companies on their disclosure requirements pursuant to ITRSHRA.
- Advising a private equity firm on OFAC (and AML) issues concerning potential portfolio company acquisitions in India and China.
- Advising a U.S. private equity firm on activities of a foreign portfolio company that included business arrangements with entities in Myanmar.
- Advising a private equity firm on OFAC and BIS issues concerning a potential portfolio company acquisition in the insurance adjustment industry.
- Represented an individual member of the board of directors of a European bank in connection with allegations of illegal U-turn payments.
- Representing an individual in connection with a threatened criminal action related to potential sales of products to Iran.
- Assisting a number of companies, both U.S. and foreign, in analyzing potential foreign business transactions for compliance with the Commerce Department’s Commerce Control List and the Treasury Department’s OFAC restrictions. Transactions include acquisitions of foreign companies, partnerships with local companies, and brokering services.
- Developed and implemented OFAC policies and procedures for several multinational investment advisers, including the preparation of policies and procedures and the provision of global training and standard contract terms and conditions, as well as the evaluation of various compliance matters.
- Developing a comprehensive economic sanctions and export control compliance for a multinational company based in France.
- Advising private equity sponsors, their portfolio companies, and investment advisors on the scope of application of U.S. and E.U. sanctions related to Russian and Ukraine.
Publications
- Sean Seelinger Discusses Assessing and Mitigating Sanctions Risks in Transactions on Control Risks Podcast (April 2021)
- “FCPA to Remain Enforcement Priority Under New Administration Against Backdrop of COVID-19,” Ropes & Gray Alert (March 2021)
- “Litigation & Enforcement Attorneys Contribute as Editors and Authors to GIR’s Fifth Edition of The Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations,” Ropes & Gray Alert (March 2021)
- “On the Ropes: Enforcement Risk Roundtable: Anti-Corruption Developments in Ghana,” Ropes & Gray Podcast (March 2021)
- “Chinese Government Introduces Rules Restricting Application of Foreign Laws,” Ropes & Gray Alert (February 2021)
- “Back to the Future: New Executive Order Restarts Myanmar Sanctions,” Ropes & Gray Alert (February 2021)
- “Communist Chinese Military Companies Executive Order: Implications and Key Questions,” Ropes & Gray Podcast (February 2021)
- “Congress Overrides President’s Veto, Clearing Way for Anti-Money Laundering Act,” Ropes & Gray Alert (January 2021)
- “Sweeping Anti-Money Laundering Legislation Requires Registration with FinCEN,” Ropes & Gray Alert (December 2020)
- “A Review of 2020's Key U.S. Sanctions Developments,” Ropes & Gray Alert (December 2020)
- “The UK Serious Fraud Office Internal Guidance on Deferred Prosecution Agreements,” Ropes & Gray Alert (November 2020)
- “U.S.-China Tensions Continue to Escalate: New Executive Order Bans Investment in 31 Chinese Companies,” Ropes & Gray Alert (November 2020)
- “OFAC Issues Art Advisory, Highlighting Sanctions Risk in the Art Trade,” Ropes & Gray Alert (November 2020)
- “Introducing Enforcement Express: A global corruption risk and enforcement resource,” Ropes & Gray Alert (October 2020)
- “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: OFAC Issues Advisory on Ransomware Payments,” Ropes & Gray Alert (October 2020)
- “U.S. Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Considerations for Fund Sponsors,” Ropes & Gray Podcast (August 2020)
- “Focus on China: New and Evolving International Risks,” Ropes & Gray Alert (July 2020)
- “A Midyear Look at Key US Sanctions Developments,” Law360 (July 2020)
- “U.S. Sanctions and Export Control Considerations for Suppliers of COVID-19 Relief Items to Latin American Jurisdictions,” Ropes & Gray Alert (May 2020)
- “FEMA to Impose COVID-19-Related Export Restrictions on Medical Equipment,” Ropes & Gray Alert (April 2020)
- “UK Sanctions Post-Brexit,” Ropes & Gray Alert (January 31, 2020)
- “OFAC's New Iran Sanctions May Not Signal Seismic Change,” Law360 (January 2020)
- “US Strengthened And Expanded Economic Sanctions In 2019,” Law360 (December 2019)
- “The DC sanctions lawyers to have on speed dial,” Global Investigations Review (November 2019)
- “U.S. Imposes Partial Embargo on Venezuela,” Ropes & Gray Alert (August 2019)
- OFAC Expands Reporting Requirements for Rejected Transactions, Ropes & Gray Alert (July 2019)
- “OFAC Expands Reporting Requirements for Rejected Transactions,” Ropes & Gray Alert (July 2019)
- “A Dramatic 6 Months For OFAC Sanctions Enforcement,”Law360 (June 2019)
- Quoted - “OFAC sanctions guidance is a ‘toolkit for compliance’,” International Financial Law Review (May 2019)
- “Key Takeaways From OFAC’s Compliance Program Guidance,” Law360 (May 2019)
- “OFAC Is Raising The Compliance Bar,” Law360 (April 2019)
- Quoted - “OFAC’s designation of Russian bank a warning to Maduro’s supporters,” International Financial Law Review (March 2019)
- “OFAC Escalates Venezuela Sanctions,” Law360 (January 2019)
- Quoted - “PRIMER: US and EU sanctions against Russia,” International Financial Law Review (December 2018)
- “A Review Of US Economic Sanctions in 2018,” Law360 (December 2018)
- “Société Générale: Sanctions Enforcement Is Alive And Well,” Law360 (November 2018)
- “US' Secondary China Sanctions Signal New Risks For Cos.,” Law360 (September 2018)
- “US sanctions and export controls: What every healthcare and life sciences compliance officer needs to know,” WorldECR (September 2018)
- Quoted - “3 Takeaways from New Export Control Act,” Law360 (September 2018)
- Quoted - “Primer: Russia sanctions: a steady wave,” International Financial Law Review (July 2018)
- Quoted - “European finance departments brace for new Iran sanctions,” Financial Management (July 2018)
- “Mid-2018 Sanctions Review: A Turbulent Year So Far,” Law360 (June 2018)
- “How Iran Deal Pullout Will Impact Cos. And Investors,” Law360 (May 2018)
- “De-Implementation Day: Preparing for Changes to U.S. Sanctions Targeting Iran,” Ropes & Gray Alert (May 2018)
- Quoted - “Complex Choices Await World if Trump Exists Iran Nuclear Deal,” Associated Press (May 2018)
- Quoted - “OFAC: Venezuela’s crypto offering could be sanctions breach,” International Financial Law Review (March 2018)
- Targeted sanctions help US maintain financial influence abroad,” International Financial Law Review (February 2018)
- “A Review of US Economic Sanctions in 2017,” Law360 (December 2017)