UK Law Firms Under Investigation for Violating Russia Sanctions Regime

A handful of law firms are being investigated by the U.K. National Crime Agency and Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation for allegedly breaching U.K. sanctions, OFSI Director Giles Thomson told the Solicitors Regulation Authority Compliance Officers conference, news site Legal Futures reported. Thomson said at the early November conference that a "very small minority" of firms are trying to aid designated individuals in skirting sanctions, while a "larger minority" were either negligent about sanctions compliance or have failed to put in place compliance measures needed to root out sanctioned individuals and entities. The U.K. in October banned British law firms from providing "transactional legal advisory services" to Russian individuals and entities.