Administrative & Regulatory Law · European Union
Stay Clear of Sanctions Risk With the Right Lawyer By Your Side
Sanctions change fast and reach further than most businesses realise. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who handles listings, screening, licences and breach response across Europe every day.
- 155+ legal services, 14 practice areas
- Lawyers across the EU & EEA
- No fee to get matched
No commitment. No hidden fees.
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Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
Who this is for
If your business touches international counterparties, sanctions apply to you
Sanctions are restrictive measures imposed by governments and international bodies — principally the EU and the UN — to restrict trade, financial flows and other dealings with targeted countries, entities and individuals. They can take many forms: asset freezes, trade embargoes on specific goods, restrictions on financial services, travel bans and sectoral prohibitions. What makes sanctions unusually dangerous for business is their speed and their reach: new listings and new restrictions are adopted frequently, often in response to fast-moving geopolitical events, and they can apply to a company’s customers, suppliers, counterparties and even its own shareholders. Breaches can carry severe penalties, including criminal liability in some member states, and enforcement is increasingly active across Europe. Because the rules are detailed, layered across EU and national law, and change constantly, a single overlooked match can expose a business to significant risk.
Why exposure is easy to miss
Sanctions reach further than the list.
That is what makes them dangerous.
Ownership thresholds, sectoral prohibitions and circumvention rules mean a business can breach sanctions through a party it never realised was in scope.
Fast-changing listings and restrictions
New individuals and entities are added to sanctions lists frequently, and restrictions can be tightened or extended with little notice. A counterparty that was clear last month may be designated today — and the obligation to screen is on you.
Indirect and sectoral exposure
Sanctions can reach beyond direct dealings: ownership thresholds, sectoral prohibitions and ‘circumvention’ rules mean a business can breach the rules through a subsidiary, a supplier or a transaction it did not even think was in scope.
Severe penalties and enforcement
Breaches can carry heavy fines and, in a number of member states, criminal liability for companies and individuals. Enforcement is increasingly active, and ignorance of a listing is rarely a defence.
What you get
A sanctions lawyer who catches what screening misses
We only match you with lawyers who handle sanctions screening, licensing and breach response regularly in your sector and jurisdiction.
Screening & due diligence
Your lawyer helps you design and run screening that actually catches designated parties — and advises on the ownership and control rules that make indirect exposure easy to miss.
Transaction clearance
Get advice on whether a proposed deal, payment or shipment is lawful under the sanctions that apply, before you commit to it and expose your business.
Licences & exemptions
Where humanitarian or other exemptions or licences are available, your lawyer assesses whether your situation qualifies and prepares the application to the competent authority on your behalf.
Investigation response
If a sanctions breach is suspected or alleged, your lawyer manages the internal review and represents you before the competent authorities throughout the entire process.
Coverage
Sanctions lawyers across Europe
EU sanctions are binding across all member states but enforced nationally, and the practical rules can differ in detail. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Sanctions — common questions
Who imposes sanctions that affect European businesses?
Primarily the EU and the UN, and in some areas individual member states. The EU adopts sanctions that are binding across all member states, and they are enforced nationally, which is why the practical rules can differ in detail from one country to another.
What is the difference between an asset freeze and a trade embargo?
An asset freeze blocks the funds and economic resources of a designated person or entity and prohibits making them available. A trade embargo prohibits or restricts trade in specified goods, services or sectors with a target country. A single sanctions regime can contain both.
Do sanctions apply to my customers and suppliers?
Yes. If a customer, supplier or other counterparty is a designated person or entity, or is owned or controlled by one, you may be prohibited from dealing with them. The rules also extend to indirect dealings, so screening across your whole value chain matters.
What are the ownership and control rules?
Sanctions often extend to entities owned or controlled by a designated person — commonly through a 50% ownership test, though the precise rules vary. This means a company that is not itself listed can still be blocked, which is why indirect exposure is easy to miss without careful analysis.
Can I get a licence to deal with a sanctioned party?
In limited cases, yes. Humanitarian grounds and certain other exemptions may allow a competent authority to grant a licence authorising otherwise prohibited activity. Eligibility is narrow and fact-specific, and a lawyer can assess whether it applies to your situation.
What should I do if I discover I have breached sanctions?
Seek specialist legal advice before communicating further. Depending on the circumstances, prompt self-reporting to the competent authority can materially affect the outcome, but the right course of action depends on the facts and the jurisdiction — it should not be decided without advice.
Free case review
One missed match can cost more than any screening
Tell us about your counterparties, transactions or concerns and we’ll connect you with a sanctions lawyer who handles your sector and jurisdiction — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.