On 18 July 2025, the Council of the European Union (the “Council”) adopted its 18th package of economic sanctions against Russia, following extensive negotiations among the EU Member States. This latest package introduces new asset-freezing sanctions designations, and a wide range of trade restrictions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, including significant new measures relating to the Russian energy and financial services sectors.

Click here to read the full alert on cov.com.

Photo of David Lorello David Lorello

David Lorello is a partner in the firm’s London office and serves as a vice chair of the firm’s International Trade Controls Practice Group. David has over 25 years of experience in advising clients concerning a range of international regulatory, white collar, and…

David Lorello is a partner in the firm’s London office and serves as a vice chair of the firm’s International Trade Controls Practice Group. David has over 25 years of experience in advising clients concerning a range of international regulatory, white collar, and commercial matters under both European and U.S. laws.  

Export Controls and Economic Sanctions

David regularly represents clients before the major agencies responsible for export controls and economic sanctions laws and regulations, both in the United States and European Union. He has assisted clients in export and sanctions licensing and compliance issues with regard to a variety of industries and products, including in relation to the energy sector, artificial intelligence, high-performance computers and semiconductors, and other areas. In the field of sanctions, David regularly supports clients in matters concerning all of the major European and U.S. sanctions programs, including those related to Russia and the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine, Belarus, Iran, Venezuela, and designated terrorist organizations. David has extensive experience assisting clients in developing effective export controls and sanctions compliance strategies, including preparing license requests, voluntary self-disclosures and intra-company agreements as well as policies necessary to ensure export controls and economic sanctions compliance.

David has appeared before the UK Parliament as an expert on arms export controls, and regularly consults with government stakeholders concerning sanctions and export controls policy matters.

Anti-Corruption Compliance and Investigations

David also actively supports clients in compliance and investigations matters arising under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the UK Bribery Act and other related U.S., UK, and European anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws. David has particular experience in developing anti-corruption compliance programs for companies operating in Europe, including coordinating advice concerning parallel risks under U.S. and European anti-corruption laws, advising clients concerning European criminal enforcement and debarment risks, and ensuring compliance with European data protection and workplace laws in the course of investigations and compliance matters.

David also regularly represents clients before the World Bank, and other international financial institutions, in debarment proceedings concerning allegations of corrupt practices in connection with contracts financed by those institutions.

Separately, David is also substantially involved in matters relating to Ukraine. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the British Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, and advises both Ukrainian companies, and international companies seeking to conduct business in Ukraine, on a range of commercial and compliance-related matters. David regularly speaks at conferences concerning Ukraine on topics ranging from the effectiveness of Russia-related sanctions, to Ukraine anti-corruption compliance and initiatives relating to the reconstruction of Ukraine. David also provides pro bono legal advice to Ukraine-related charitable organizations.

Read more about David Lorello
Show more Show less
Photo of Emanuel Ghebregergis Emanuel Ghebregergis

Emanuel Ghebregergis advises clients on international trade controls, foreign direct investment (FDI), environmental, social, and governance (ESG), and litigation matters under European and German laws.

In his international trade controls practice, Emanuel counsels multinational companies across various sectors, including the life sciences, energy…

Emanuel Ghebregergis advises clients on international trade controls, foreign direct investment (FDI), environmental, social, and governance (ESG), and litigation matters under European and German laws.

In his international trade controls practice, Emanuel counsels multinational companies across various sectors, including the life sciences, energy, and defense sectors on EU and UK economic sanctions and export controls requirements. He has extensive experience with major sanctions regimes involving Russia, Belarus, Iran, Syria, and Myanmar, as well as national-security–related export controls on dual-use and military goods. Emanuel regularly assists clients with export and sanctions licensing matters before BAFA and other EU Member State authorities and supports corporate and private equity clients in M&A transactions, including sanctions and export-controls due diligence, transaction risk assessments, and post-acquisition compliance integration.

Emanuel also advises on German foreign investment rules and works closely with cross-border deal teams to navigate German investment review processes. Emanuel also counsels companies on obligations under the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG), the Energy Efficiency Act, and other emerging EU-level sustainability and due-diligence frameworks. He also represents clients in German commercial and administrative litigation matters.

Read more about Emanuel Ghebregergis
Show more Show less
Photo of Edwin Djabatey Edwin Djabatey

Edwin Djabatey is an associate in the London office. He advises on regulatory and compliance issues within, and at the intersection of, the firm’s financial services, technology, media, trade controls and white collar practices.

Reflecting an increasing trend in regulators looking beyond industry…

Edwin Djabatey is an associate in the London office. He advises on regulatory and compliance issues within, and at the intersection of, the firm’s financial services, technology, media, trade controls and white collar practices.

Reflecting an increasing trend in regulators looking beyond industry remits, Edwin acts on multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral regulatory compliance matters. For example, he has advised global technology companies on operational resilience requirements imposed by financial services regulators.

Edwin has assisted clients on compliance matters and internal investigations – for instance, in the white collar context, concerning issues such as bribery, corruption, anti-money laundering, and fraud, and in the financial services context, concerning culture, conduct, and whistleblowing. He provides clients in the pharmaceutical, technology and energy industries with UK and EU sanctions and export controls advice. He also has experience advising clients in the technology and media industries on regulatory matters.

Read more about Edwin Djabatey
Show more Show less