International Sanctions Removal Lawyers

Specialist lawyers challenging OFAC, EU, UK, and UN sanctions designations. We advise individuals, businesses, and state entities on sanctions compliance, designation challenges, and asset unfreezing across all major sanctions regimes.

Get Free Consultation

What Are International Sanctions?

International sanctions are restrictive measures imposed by governments and international organisations — including the United States (OFAC), European Union, United Kingdom, and United Nations — against individuals, businesses, and governments accused of specific conduct. Sanctions can include:

Asset freezes — all assets held in or passing through sanctioning jurisdictions are frozen, preventing access to bank accounts, property, and investments
Travel bans — prohibition on entering or transiting through the sanctioning territory
Transaction prohibitions — businesses and individuals in the sanctioning jurisdiction are prohibited from dealing with the designated party
Arms embargoes and technology restrictions — prohibitions on the supply of specified goods and services

Being designated on a sanctions list — such as the US OFAC SDN list, the EU Consolidated List, the UK sanctions list, or UN Security Council sanctions — has devastating consequences for personal freedom, business operations, and reputation. Many designations are made without adequate evidence or due process, and can be successfully challenged.

Sanctions Regimes We Challenge

OFAC (US Treasury SDN List) — the most far-reaching sanctions regime, affecting access to the US financial system globally. We challenge SDN designations, seek OFAC licences, and advise on US sanctions compliance across all OFAC programs including RUSSIA, UKRAINE, IRAN, and DPRK
EU Sanctions — challenge designations under EU restrictive measures through the CJEU and via delisting procedures before the Council of the EU. We handle all EU sanctions programs including Russia-Ukraine, Belarus, Syria, Libya, and thematic regimes
UK Sanctions (OFSI) — challenge UK sanctions designations through the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and the UK courts. Post-Brexit UK sanctions now operate independently from EU measures
UN Security Council Sanctions — challenge UN-level designations through the relevant Sanctions Committee Ombudspersons, including the 1267 Committee focal point for Al-Qaida/ISIL listings
Other national regimes — Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Japan, and other jurisdictions have their own sanctions programs. We advise on multi-jurisdictional exposure

Our Sanctions Defence Services

Designation challenge — formal administrative or judicial challenge seeking removal from the sanctions list, based on errors of fact, insufficient evidence, procedural violations, or human rights arguments
Humanitarian and general licences — applications for OFAC, OFSI, or EU authorisations permitting specific transactions despite designation, including legal fee authorisations, medical care, and family maintenance
Asset unfreezing — applications to release specific frozen assets for essential purposes, or full unfreezing following successful delisting
Sanctions compliance advisory — guidance for businesses operating near sanctioned parties, including risk assessments, compliance frameworks, and voluntary self-disclosure
Cross-regime coordination — where a client is designated in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously, we coordinate challenges across all relevant regimes to achieve a comprehensive result
Interpol and sanctions intersection — where a client faces both Interpol notices and sanctions designations, we provide integrated defence strategy covering both

Frequently Asked Questions on Sanctions

How do I know if I am on a sanctions list?

You can search the OFAC SDN list at ofac.treas.gov, the EU Consolidated List at eeas.europa.eu, and the UK sanctions list at gov.uk/government/publications/financial-sanctions-consolidated-list-of-targets. However, many individuals discover they are designated only when their bank account is frozen or a transaction is declined. Our lawyers provide a comprehensive multi-regime screening service to check your status across all major sanctions programs.

Can a sanctions designation be challenged?

Yes. Sanctions designations by OFAC, the EU, the UK, and the UN can all be challenged through administrative reconsideration procedures and, in many cases, through judicial review. Successful challenges are achieved where the designation is based on insufficient evidence, factual errors, guilt-by-association without independent evidence, or where circumstances have materially changed since designation. Our lawyers have experience in delisting proceedings across all major sanctions regimes.

What is the difference between OFAC and EU sanctions?

OFAC (US Treasury) sanctions have the widest extraterritorial reach — they apply to all US persons globally and can affect non-US banks and businesses through secondary sanctions. EU sanctions apply within EU territory and to EU persons. UK sanctions, post-Brexit, operate independently from EU measures. Being designated under one regime does not automatically result in designation under others, though many designations are coordinated. We advise on the specific implications of each regime for your situation.