Insights

On June 30, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14312 effectively lifting (or beginning the process of lifting) most of the sanctions on Syria. Executive Order 14312 cites the leadership changes and the policies of the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa as the reasons for the removal of sanctions. On the same day, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Department of State took steps to implement the termination of the program by, among other actions, delisting appropriate individuals and entities from the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List). These actions followed the initial sanctions relief provided on May 23, 2025 by OFAC, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and the State Department.

On this 4thof July, Britain was also celebrating. The first country to secure a trade deal with the Trump Administration, the U.K. can indeed celebrate the so-called Special Relationship.

On 24 April 2025, the UK Serious Fraud Office (“SFO”) unveiled its new External Guidance on Corporate Co-Operation and Enforcement in relation to Corporate Criminal Offending (the “Guidance”)[1]to enhance corporate compliance, transparency and cooperation in combatting fraud, bribery and corruption in the UK. This comprehensive guidance is critical for both UK-based entities and international companies operating under UK jurisdiction.