Jack Zaher

Oct 7, 2024 | lexology.com | Ryan Junck |Jonathan Benson |Jason Williamson |Karolina Kopczynska-Grobelny |Jack Zaher

On 27 September 2024, the UK’s financial sanctions regulator, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), announced that it had issued its first monetary penalty for a breach of UK financial sanctions imposed against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

May 20, 2024 | lexology.com | Andrew Good |Vanessa McGoldrick |Jason Williamson |Molly Brien |Jack Zaher

Below is a summary of recent developments and enforcement trends in the UK white collar crime space in the first quarter of 2024. I. New LegislationThe Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) became law in the UK in October 2023, and although certain parts are not yet fully in force, the act contains key legislative changes around which companies should anticipate making related updates to their compliance programs.

Mar 11, 2024 | lexology.com | Ryan Junck |Jason Williamson |Jack Zaher |Cormac Ruiz

On 22 February 2024, shortly before the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK government published its first sanctions strategy (the Strategy).1 The Strategy explains the UK’s use and implementation of sanctions as a foreign policy and security tool and signals the government’s likely areas of focus going forward. The publication of the Strategy coincided with the UK’s announcement of designations against 52 individuals and entities under the Russia and Belarus regimes.

Jan 22, 2024 | jdsupra.com | Ryan Junck |Jason Williamson |Jack Zaher

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearing the end of its second year, the United Kingdom has continued to introduce sanctions measures against Russia, with the latest round announced on 14 December 2023.1In particular: Existing import restrictions were expanded to include certain Russian metals and ancillary services provided in relation to luxury goods, whilst existing restrictions on processing sterling payments were expanded to cover non-sterling payments.

Aug 21, 2023 | jdsupra.com | Elizabeth Robertson |Jason Williamson |Jack Zaher

When the UK legal services ban was introduced in June 2023, concerns were raised that the exception outlined in the legislation relating to the provision of sanctions compliance advice was limited in scope. In particular, as drafted, the exception is limited to advice relating to compliance with UK sanctions; it does not include the provision of legal advice in relation to whether a client’s proposed activity is prohibited by other international sanctions regimes.