This alert summarizes recent developments in relation to the UK sanctions.

First, the UK introduced a substantial expansion of its Iran sanctions regime, including new trade, financial and transport restrictions. These measures are scheduled to enter into force on 29 September 2026.

Second, the UK announced a new package of measures targeting certain Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including an import ban on settlement goods and restrictions on certain types of services. Legislation implementing these measures has not yet been adopted. At the same time, a number of other countries, including several EU Member States, announced alongside the UK their intention to introduce national measures relating to the West Bank and expressed support for the development of a coordinated European approach.

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.

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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.

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Photo of Matthieu Coget Matthieu Coget

Matthieu Coget’s practice sits at the intersection of law and policy. He advises primarily on the EU’s evolving regulatory response to geopolitical and trade tensions, including foreign investment screening, sanctions and export controls, and trade safeguards. Matthieu also advises on reputational risks arising…

Matthieu Coget’s practice sits at the intersection of law and policy. He advises primarily on the EU’s evolving regulatory response to geopolitical and trade tensions, including foreign investment screening, sanctions and export controls, and trade safeguards. Matthieu also advises on reputational risks arising from cross-border transactions involving strategic supply chains. In addition, he regularly supports clients in designing and implementing policy engagement strategies.

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Photo of Sarah Bishop Sarah Bishop

Sarah Bishop is a U.S. and UK-qualified lawyer with a broad compliance and investigations practice covering anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, UK and EU sanctions and export controls, and business and human rights.

Sarah helps multinational corporations develop and test the robustness of ethics and…

Sarah Bishop is a U.S. and UK-qualified lawyer with a broad compliance and investigations practice covering anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, UK and EU sanctions and export controls, and business and human rights.

Sarah helps multinational corporations develop and test the robustness of ethics and compliance programs, conduct risk assessments, conduct transactional and third party due diligence, support post-acquisition compliance integration projects, and deliver compliance training.

Sarah has extensive experience conducting internal and government-facing white collar investigations. She has conducted investigations involving allegations of bribery, money laundering, UK and EU export control and sanctions violations, fraud, human rights violations, and other forms of misconduct. She has handled matters before major international enforcement authorities and has been recognized in the Global Investigations Review Women in Investigations survey.

Sarah also assists clients in suspension and debarment matters before the World Bank and other international financial institutions.

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