Sanctions

Fountain Court members are regularly instructed in high-profile litigation involving UK, EU, and US sanctions regimes, including contractual disputes, challenges to designations, asset freezing measures, licensing applications, and enforcement proceedings. Cases span various sectors, such as aviation, banking, financial services, insurance and professional services.

The set’s sanctions practice covers the full spectrum of contentious and advisory matters across civil and criminal proceedings, including judicial review challenges to HM Treasury and OFSI decisions, applications for variations to asset freezing orders, disputes concerning the scope and application of financial restrictions, and litigation involving allegations of sanctions breaches.

Members advise governments, financial institutions, corporates, and high-net-worth individuals on sanctions compliance, regulatory investigations, enforcement risk, and strategic responses to designation. Our members have particular expertise in cases requiring analysis of complex corporate ownership structures, financial transactions across multiple jurisdictions, and the interplay between different sanctions regimes.

Fountain Court also has extensive experience acting for designated persons in relation to challenges to their designations, in the UK and EU. Members also advise on the implementation, application and enforcement of sanctions‑related legislation, including issues arising in arbitration and the enforcement of court or arbitral awards. Members have particular depth of experience in sanctions matters affecting the aviation sector, including those arising out of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Our work includes cases relating to:

• Aviation & Travel
• Banking & Finance
• Commercial Crime
• Commercial Disputes (including breaches of contract)
• Construction, Energy & Infrastructure
• Financial Services
• Insurance
• Privilege, Confidentiality & Conflicts of Interest
• Professional Discipline
• Professional Negligence