Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled OFAC Publishes New and Amended FAQs Regarding the Russia Investment Ban on 8 June 2022. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.
In the wake of last month’s collapse of the TerraUSD token, a broad array of regulators and government officials have attempted to introduce a legal framework around stablecoins. Last week, Senators Lummis and Gillibrand introduced a bill into the US Congress that would, among other things set requirements for the amount of backing assets stablecoin issuers would be required to hold.
On May 16, 2022, the US Departments of State and Treasury and the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a joint advisory alert to the public about attempts by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (“DPRK” a.k.a. North Korea) and DPRK information technology (“IT”) workers posing as non-DPRK nationals to obtain employment outside of North Korea. The Advisory provides guidance to help prevent inadvertent recruitment, hiring, and facilitation of North Korean IT workers, as the hiring or support of DPRK IT workers may create business risks that range from theft of data, intellectual property, and funds, to sanctions-related risks under both US and United Nations authorities.
Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled United States: BIS Issues Temporary Denial Order Against Additional Russian Airline and Adds Aircraft to List of Aircraft Subject to General Prohibition 10 on 2 June 2022. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.
Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled United States: OFAC Reissues and Extends General License Authorizing Certain Transactions Involving the Central Bank of Russia, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, or the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation on 2 June 2022. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.
Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled Department of Commerce Expands Russia Industry Sector Sanctions to Cover Additional Items on 13 May 2022. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.
On May 12, 2022, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued Syria General License No. 22 (“GL 22“), authorizing certain activities in particular sectors of the Syrian economy that are otherwise prohibited under the Syrian Sanctions Regulations in specified regions of Syria not controlled by the Assad regime. According to the US Statement Department’s press release, GL 22 was issued in support of the Biden Administration’s strategy to defeat ISIS by promoting economic stabilization in areas previously controlled by ISIS.
Recently, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Division of Corporation Finance issued a sample letter advising companies on their potential need to disclose direct and indirect impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the related international response on their operations. Sample letters generally do not create any new legal obligations; instead, they signal the areas of potential scrutiny by the SEC and illustrate the types of risks the SEC may view as material.
Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled OFAC issues new and amended Russia-related general licenses and FAQs; BIS issues new Russia-related FAQs on 9 May 2022. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.
Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled OFAC bans export of accounting, trust and corporate formation, and management consulting services to Russia; and issues new Russian SDN designations, Russia-related general licenses, and Russia-related FAQson 10 May 2022. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.