A former board member of a Russian state-owned bank asked a federal court to order the U.S. to remove her from a U.S. sanctions list, saying there is “no factual basis” that supports her listing. In a complaint recently filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Elena Titova, a dual Russian and U.K. citizen, said she resigned from her position eight days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year but was still added to the Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals List even though she hasn’t been designated by any “other nation in the world.”
OFAC sanction activity
An Iranian car manufacturer is asking a federal court to order the Treasury Department to remove it from a U.S. sanctions list, saying Treasury has “no real intention of rescinding” its designation no matter what evidence it is shown. Bahman Group, which was first sanctioned in 2018, said Treasury continues to “manufacture a pretext” to maintain sanctions against the company despite being provided proof that it’s no longer engaging in sanctionable activities.
Charlie Steele, former chief counsel at the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control during 2019-2020, launched a solo law practice called the Law Office of Charles Steele, the attorney announced on LinkedIn. The firm's work will center on "U.S. economic sanctions matters, including counseling, compliance advice, license applications, enforcement matters, and delisting petitions," along with proceedings involving the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and national security. Steele added that he will continue his practice at Forensic Risk Alliance, where he has worked as a partner since 2020.
New York lawyer Robert Wise pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme to make around $3.8 million in payments to maintain six real properties in the U.S. owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. Wise pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering and faces a maximum of five years in prison, DOJ said April 25. He also forfeited more than $3.7 million and agreed "to be satisfied" by a $210,441 payment.
Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi, a citizen of Lebanon and Belgium, and Talal Chahine, a Lebanese citizen, were charged as part of a conspiracy to launder money, cause U.S. citizens to conduct illegal transactions with a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and conduct illegal transactions with a sanctioned terrorist, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York announced Feb. 24. Each charge carries the possible punishment of up to 20 years in prison.
Vladimir Voronchenko, a Russian citizen and legal permanent resident of the U.S., was charged with participating in a scheme to net over $4 million to maintain four properties in the U.S. owned by sanctioned oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, DOJ announced. Voronchenko also tried to sell two of the properties.
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Jason Prince, former chief counsel at the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, has moved to Crowell & Moring as a partner, the firm announced. He will advise clients on sanctions and export controls imposed on Russia and other nations and parties. During his time at OFAC, Prince "oversaw the legal design of new sanctions measures and led the legal review of all major OFAC enforcement, compliance, licensing, litigation, and regulatory actions," the firm said.
Sharath Patil, former associate attorney at Diaz Trade Law, has joined the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control as a sanctions enforcement officer, according to his LinkedIn page. Before working at Diaz Trade Law, Patil was research director for international trade at the nonprofit advocacy group Public Citizen.
Guillermo Christensen, former office managing partner at Ice Miller, has joined K&L Gates as a partner in the antitrust, competition and trade regulation practice, the firm announced. Christensen's practice centers on advising clients on matters involving economic sanctions, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and export controls. In the past, Christensen has also represented clients in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases, OFAC investigations and voluntary disclosures. Before becoming a lawyer, Christensen worked for the CIA for 15 years in various assignments, including in interagency roles with the Defense and State departments.