By: Scott Maberry and Mark Jensen

People who practice U.S. economic sanctions law like to talk about how sanctions are policy-oriented, or an engine of U.S. foreign policy.  Whereas some laws may be more opaquely political, economic sanctions and embargoes seem to express most bluntly how international leverage works through regulation.  And yet, a few recent regulatory developments show that the direction that sanctions take is not always predictable.

Continue Reading OFAC Gets Hot, Bothered on Iran and Cuba: How Economic Sanctions Work Today

By: David Gallacher and Thaddeus McBride

In 2011, the world experienced historic events, particularly with regard to the Arab Spring and the violent repression that followed in nations like Libya and Syria.  2011 witnessed the expansion of a number of international sanctions programs, most particularly tied to political developments in countries such as Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Cuba, and North Korea.  Following is a summary of key developments in U.S. sanctions during 2011, as well as a brief look ahead at what may happen in 2012 in countries such as Iran, Yemen, and Myanmar (Burma). 

Continue Reading International Sanctions – Updates to U.S. Sanctions Laws in 2011