A rapidly developing area

The use of international sanctions has increased exponentially in the past 10 years, with hundreds of unique sanctions regulations currently implemented around the world. For any business with an actual or aspirational global footprint, compliance with multiple regulatory regimes, which may often contradict one another, is both essential and complicated. Any failure to comply with such regimes can result in fines, regulatory monitors, reputational damage and, in the most serious cases, criminal conviction.

Our sanctions clients

We act for corporates and individuals where there may be actual or potential sanctions concerns and provide sanctions risk management advice designed to minimise the scope for breaches of regulations around the world.

David Savage is one of very few experts who has experience of dealing with all aspects of sanctions compliance in both private practice and in-house. Prior to joining Stewarts, David was responsible for sanctions compliance at Kleinwort Hambros, a private bank. He is, therefore, able to advise clients on both legal and regulatory exposure, as well as the practicalities of sanctions compliance and investigations.

Our lawyers have experience advising clients on the complexities of sanctions against multiple jurisdictions, including Russia, Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, Belarus, Cuba, Syria, Libya, Sudan and Zimbabwe. We advise on matters including sanctions policies and procedures, real-time transactions, potential or actual exposure to sanctions regimes, appropriate due diligence for counterparties in sanctioned jurisdictions or with a sanctions nexus, internal investigations, voluntary self-disclosures, negotiations with regulators, and challenges to sanctions designations by both individuals and corporates.

Our approach to sanctions

With deep-rooted knowledge of the legal, regulatory and geopolitical issues that underpin the implementation and enforcement of sanctions regimes, our team provides strategic, commercial and focused advice on the myriad issues faced by our clients. We have strong relationships with regulators and sanctions practitioners around the world, which enables our team to provide a global view of sanctions compliance, investigations and enforcement.

David is an acknowledged expert in international sanctions and provides the EU Sanctions Enforcement chapter for the GIRs: The Guidance to Sanctions, which may be found here.