Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

UK trade sanctions offences under SAMLA 2018: corporate liability, licences, defences, enforcement and penalties

Published by a LexisNexis Corporate Crime expert

Practice notes

The Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (SAMLA 2018)

Established after Brexit, SAMLA 2018 sets out a UK‑centric system for putting sanctions in place and policing them domestically as well. The core UK sanctions regimes have been brought in via secondary legislation, and SAMLA 2018 permits regulations to be made covering the enforcement of any ban or obligation created by a regulation. See Practice Notes: The UK sanctions framework under SAMLA 2018 and UK sanctions regimes currently in force. Under sanctions regulations, SAMLA 2018 authorises the imposition of trade sanctions. Such trade measures curb the direct or indirect import or export of goods, non‑financial services, or technology connected to, intended for use in, or used in or by, a specified country, region, or person. Note that trade sanctions intersect with export controls but are not the same. See Practice Note: Understanding the UK trade sanctions regime—What are trade sanctions? Each distinct sanctions regime may include trade‑related provisions, identifying the goods and/or services that are barred. Regulations made pursuant to SAMLA 2018 establish criminal offences to enforce prohibitions and requirements, and to stop the evasion of trade sanctions. Regulations can also set out exceptions and licences. See Practice Note: Licences and...

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Andrew Hood

Fieldfisher

Andrew is a partner and co-chair of the Sanctions Group at Fieldfisher LLP. He specialises in advising Governments, regulators and industry on sanctions, trade and public international law. Prior to joining Fieldfisher, Andrew spent over 13 years as a lawyer and negotiator for the UK Government, including as a lawyer at the Foreign Office; the UK's sanctions negotiator in Brussels; the Head of International and EU Law at the Attorney General’s Office; and as the first General Counsel in 10 Downing Street, advising the UK Prime Minister (David Cameron)...

Vansh Gupta

Fieldfisher

Vansh is a Senior Associate in the trade team of Fieldfisher LLP with 8 years' experience as a sanctions and trade lawyer. He regularly gives practical advice to business and government in complex interactions of law, politics and economics. Before joining Fieldfisher, Vansh was a trade lawyer and negotiator for the UK Department for International Trade and HM Treasury. He has been involved in nearly all of the UK's international trade agreements following its exit from the European Union. ...

Nathalie Reid

Fieldfisher

Nathalie is a Senior Associate in Fieldfisher LLP's London-based Trade team. She specialises in the areas of sanctions and export controls and gives practical advice to businesses and industry bodies on trade and supply chain issues....

Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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