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As anticipated in our previous GT Alert, the UK government is bringing forward its economic crime legislation in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The measures include:

  • a register of overseas entities that own real estate in the United Kingdom, including through a trust structure – a failure to declare being a beneficial owner could result in restrictions on selling a property and a prison sentence of up to five years. The register would apply to properties bought in the preceding 20 years for England & Wales, and from December 2014 for Scotland;
  • capping the cost of unsuccessful applications by government agencies such as the Serious Fraud Office, HMRC, and National Crime Agency for unexplained wealth orders;
  • allowing additional time for government agencies to consider material provided under an unexplained wealth order;
  • requiring applicants to provide more information as to their identity when creating new companies;
  • a new department dedicated to investigation of sanctions violations within the National Crime Agency.

In addition, the UK in common with the United States and EU has imposed sanctions on Russia’s central bank (and therefore its ability to use its $630bn war chest), and banned a number of Russian banks from SWIFT, the international payment system.

Click here to access all GT Insights related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Tags: economic crime, economic sanctions, export controls, GT Insight, Russia, Ukraine
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Jo Rickards

Jo Rickards is the Chair of the London office’s White Collar Crime & Investigations Group where she represents a wide range of companies and individuals. Jo is recognised as a leading individual in her practice area advising clients in investigations involving allegations of

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Jo Rickards is the Chair of the London office’s White Collar Crime & Investigations Group where she represents a wide range of companies and individuals. Jo is recognised as a leading individual in her practice area advising clients in investigations involving allegations of corruption, cartels, tax and investment fraud and contentious financial services. She has advised directors and companies in the UK and internationally for over 20 years. She represents companies and individuals investigated by the SFO, FCA, CMA and HMRC and those who are subject to mutual legal assistance requests from criminal authorities abroad.

Jo’s corporate representations range from advising a U.S. parent whose subsidiary agreed to a civil recovery order with the SFO, conducting an independent review for a UK casino chain, advising an online gambling platform in respect of a money laundering investigation and advising a sovereign wealth fund involved in a high profile sanctions matter. She has advised numerous companies on corruption, money laundering and fraud issues. She has acted for individuals in relation to investigations into Unaoil, Patisserie Valerie, Quindell, Rolls Royce, and a multinational tobacco company. She also has deep experience with insider dealing prosecutions and market abuse investigations. She was involved in the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the British press and the Manchester Arena Inquest/Inquiry.

She has a particular interest in bribery & corruption, environmental crime and greenwashing and regularly writes and speaks on these subjects.

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Photo of Annabel Thomas Annabel Thomas

Annabel Thomas is an experienced commercial litigator with a strong background in corporate disputes and civil fraud. She represents clients on matters involving asset-tracing and injunctive relief; partnership disputes; competition law; and regulatory/disciplinary litigation. She also handles company and shareholder disputes (including unfair…

Annabel Thomas is an experienced commercial litigator with a strong background in corporate disputes and civil fraud. She represents clients on matters involving asset-tracing and injunctive relief; partnership disputes; competition law; and regulatory/disciplinary litigation. She also handles company and shareholder disputes (including unfair prejudice claims, breach of directors’ duties, JV disputes, LLP disputes and breach of warranty and indemnity claims), as well as insurance disputes (including coverage, subrogated recovery and brokers’ negligence). Annabel’s practice covers litigation in the high court, as well as arbitral proceedings. She is experienced in both defending and bringing claims, often involving multiple jurisdictions and applications for interim relief, including freezing injunctions, search & seizure orders, disclosure orders and security for costs.

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Photo of Kara M. Bombach Kara M. Bombach

Kara Bombach assists companies and organizations to lawfully export goods, technology and services around the globe. She places emphasis on helping clients achieve practical, workable solutions to complex regulatory situations arising under anti-corruption and anti-bribery measures (U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and

…

Kara Bombach assists companies and organizations to lawfully export goods, technology and services around the globe. She places emphasis on helping clients achieve practical, workable solutions to complex regulatory situations arising under anti-corruption and anti-bribery measures (U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and OECD Convention), export control laws (EAR and ITAR), anti-boycott laws, and special sanctions (embargoes) maintained by the U.S. government (OFAC and other agencies) against various countries (including Iran, Cuba and Russia), entities and individuals. In cases of foreign investment in the United States, Kara advises on the Exon-Florio provisions relating to U.S. national security concerns. She represents companies before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and also assists clients in mitigating foreign ownership, control or influence (FOCI) as may be required by CFIUS or U.S. national industrial security regulations.

Kara regularly represents clients in matters before U.S. government agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Commerce, State, Treasury and Defense. Kara has significant experience representing individuals and entities before OFAC in delisting matters and challenges to OFAC sanctions designations.

She advises national and multi-national companies (including Fortune® 5) on best practices in the development and delivery of compliance policies and procedures, training, and risk assessments, as well as executing cross-border export, sanctions and anti-corruption due diligence in mergers and acquisitions, targeted internal risk assessments, and compliance investigations.

Kara also counsels international not-for-profit and relief/aid organizations on best practices in economic sanctions, trade, and anti-corruption compliance issues that arise in their global operations, frequently in challenging and austere environments. She has provided legal services to organizations such as Save the Children (US), ONE Campaign, Mercy Corps, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Not on Our Watch/The Sentry, and The Enough Project.

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Photo of Cyril T. Brennan Cyril T. Brennan

Cyril (Cy) Brennan focuses his practice on international trade regulation and compliance, with an emphasis on U.S. export controls and economic sanctions. Cy handles matters regarding the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), U.S. sanctions programs administered by…

Cyril (Cy) Brennan focuses his practice on international trade regulation and compliance, with an emphasis on U.S. export controls and economic sanctions. Cy handles matters regarding the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), U.S. sanctions programs administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Department of Commerce’s anti-boycott regulations. In addition, he represents clients before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and advises clients on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the foreign direct investment reporting requirements of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), and other trade and investment-related regulations in the context of mergers and acquisitions.

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Photo of Sonali Dohale Sonali Dohale

Sonali Dohale assists companies engaged in international business navigate U.S. international trade laws and regulations. She counsels clients on a range of economic sanctions and export controls issues, including those arising under sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office…

Sonali Dohale assists companies engaged in international business navigate U.S. international trade laws and regulations. She counsels clients on a range of economic sanctions and export controls issues, including those arising under sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Sonali also represents companies engaged in cross-border mergers and acquisitions before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Her practice also involves assisting companies with internal investigations and compliance programs under various anti-corruption regimes (including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and World Bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines).

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Photo of Francisco J. Vélez ‡ Francisco J. Vélez ‡

Francisco J. Vélez focuses his practice on international trade regulation with an emphasis on U.S. export controls and economic sanctions. He counsels clients on a range of economic sanctions and export controls issues, including those arising under sanctions programs administered by the U.S.

Francisco J. Vélez focuses his practice on international trade regulation with an emphasis on U.S. export controls and economic sanctions. He counsels clients on a range of economic sanctions and export controls issues, including those arising under sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

‡ Admitted to practice in Florida. Practice in District of Columbia limited to federal courts and agencies.

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