Sanctions
Members of 4 New Square Chambers frequently litigate and advise on UK and international sanctions.
Increasingly many commercial disputes in the English courts and in arbitration are affected by issues relating to sanctions. For example, members of 4 New Square Chambers have been, and are, instructed in relation to the UK’s sanctions against Russia, including the ongoing proceedings in LLC Eurochem North-West 2 -v- Societe Generale S.A and others (one of The Lawyer’s “Top 20 Cases of 2025”); Vneshprombank -v- Bedzhamov [2024] EWHC 1048 (Ch); and in various arbitrations.
We are also instructed (both for and against the government) on public law sanctions litigation concerning challenges to designations, and in respect of other public law issues such as licencing regimes.
Our members have extensive experience in advising on all aspects of compliance with UK sanctions including the UK’s Anti-Corruption sanctions regime, and various international sanctions regimes such as those of the EU and the UN. This includes advice in respect of both onshore and offshore structures as well as advice on the obligations of professionals when dealing with potentially sanctioned entities and ancillary matters like the impact of sanctions on security for costs and arrangements for settlement and enforcement of judgments.
Members also advise on financial sanctions and trade sanctions (including export control), both at the transactional compliance stage, and in the context of regulatory investigations.
Our advice on sanctions matters often draws on our expertise in other specialised areas of law, in particular fraud, tax, insolvency and professional negligence.
Richard O’Brien KC is a co-author of the chapter on “Sanctions including Asset Freezes” in National Security: Law Procedure and Practice (OUP, 2nd edition). Emile Simpson advises the STEP UK Technical committee on sanctions, and is the author of its guidance on the trust services prohibition in the UK’s Russia sanctions regime.
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