Sanctions on the Russian Federation effective June 7, 2022

Russian flag and th word sanctions

The U.S government has enacted several sanctions against Russia and continues to issue more as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) rolled out another significant expansion of U.S. sanctions targeting Russia by announcing a determination pursuant to Section 1(a)(ii) of Executive Order No. 14071, issued April 6, prohibiting new investment in and certain services to the Russian Federation.

With respect to what entails the “certain services” prohibited, effective June 7, 2022, at 12:01 a.m. EST, all U.S. Persons will be prohibited from directly or indirectly exporting, reexporting, selling, or supplying accounting, trust or corporate formation, or management consulting services to any person located in the Russian Federation. 

Not included in these restrictions are: “(1) any service to an entity located in Russia that is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a U.S. Person,” and “(2) any service in connection with the wind-down or divestiture of any entity located in the Russian Federation that is not owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a Russian person.”

How these sanctions may affect clients located in Russia

Attorneys, audit firms, persons serving as trustees, agents, marketing companies, management firms, and credit rating providers, are all people or companies who may engage in these types of prohibited services for their clients. However, if they provide these services to any person located in the Russian Federation, they will be at high risk of sanctions impositions, unless authorized or exempt, even if such services are not considered the primary practice of the company. Furthermore, sanctions violations are strict liability offenses, so even “one time” events will be prohibited as the supply of such services to any person in the Russian Federation.

These widespread sanctions pose complex compliance challenges for parties operating across borders, even when there is not a direct or clear connection with Russia. OFAC will likely continue to announce “categories of services” that U.S. Persons will be prohibited to provide to persons located in the Russian Federation under the Executive Order No. 14071. With the rolling changes to policies and sanctions within individual countries, not only can this affect a law firm’s Russian clients but can also affect clients who are from Russia’s allied countries under the EAEU such as Belarus, Armenia and China.

Law firms can ensure they are complying with these prohibitions by reviewing all of their client matters and making appropriate changes to policies, controls and procedures, conducting source of funds and wealth checks, and keeping up to date with clients and countries that are considered to be allies of Russia.

EPGD Business Law is located in beautiful Coral Gables. Call us at (786) 837-6787, or contact us through the website to schedule a consultation.

*Disclaimer: this blog post is not intended to be legal advice. We highly recommend speaking to an attorney if you have any legal concerns. Contacting us through our website does not establish an attorney-client relationship.*

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Eric Gros-Dubois

Founding partner Eric Gros-Dubois established EPGD Business Law in 2013. With over a decade of experience expanding the firm and leading it to its current success, Eric now primarily manages the corporate division of EPGD. Given Eric’s educational background, holding both a JD and MBA, combined with his own unique experience of starting a business from scratch and growing it to a multi-million dollar firm, he brings a specialized and invaluable perspective to those seeking legal assistance for themselves and their businesses. Having now instilled his same values in our team of skilled corporate associates, Eric leads a firm that is always ready, willing, and equipped to handle any and every legal matter that a business owner may have.

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