On September 11, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it is seeking comments on a new interim final rule amending OFAC’s Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations to extend recordkeeping requirements from five to ten years. While OFAC is seeking comments within 30 days, the interim final rule
Anand Sithian
For high-stakes internal and government investigations and complex regulatory and compliance matters, companies and individuals look to Anand to provide strategic advice and counseling, particularly on issues relating to the Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering (“BSA/AML”), economic sanctions, and digital assets. Anand is resident in the firm’s New York office and a member of the firm’s International Trade, White Collar and Regulatory Enforcement, and Financial Services groups.
A former federal prosecutor, Anand leverages his government experience to guide clients through complex white-collar matters, including grand jury and regulatory investigations, enforcement proceedings, and internal investigations. Anand has deep experience in parallel criminal and civil investigations and proceedings, and often represents clients in defending against civil lawsuits related to government investigations.
Representing some of the world’s largest banks and technology companies, Anand has addressed a wide range of issues, including economic sanctions, BSA/AML; economic sanctions and national security; payments and cryptocurrency; securities laws; and cybersecurity enforcement. In the regulatory space, Anand prides himself on providing commercial and actionable advice, including in the developing areas of digital assets, FinTech, and payments.
OFAC Issues Notice for New Reporting Requirements for Financial Institutions Under the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act
On July 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a notice about new reporting requirements (the OFAC Reporting Notice) under the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act (REPO for Ukrainians Act). As discussed in our previous client alert, the REPO for Ukrainians Act authorizes…
OFAC Sanctions Shadow Banking Network for Iran Military
On June 25, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned almost 50 entities and individuals comprising an expansive “shadow banking” network used by Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to gain access to the international financial system, and added…
New Antiboycott Advisory on Türkiye
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Antiboycott Compliance (OAC) issued an advisory regarding the Turkish government’s announcement that it will “suspend all exports and imports to and from Israel until the Israeli government allows an uninterrupted and sufficient flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
The…
U.S. Tightens Sanctions on Russia, Now Targeting Companies Based in China
On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it issued new sanctions on nearly 200 entities and individuals for supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, intensifying U.S. efforts to thwart Russia’s attempts to circumvent Western sanctions. The list includes more than a dozen of companies…
Aid and Sanctions: Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan Aid Bill Expands U.S. Sanctions and Export Control Authorities
The latest U.S. foreign aid bill supporting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan enacted on April 24, 2024 enhances U.S. sanctions and export controls including expanding (1) the statute of limitations for sanctions violations; (2) the President’s authority to coordinate sanctions efforts with the European Union and the United Kingdom; (3) sanctions and export controls on Iran…
White House Issues Executive Order to Limit the Transfer of Certain Sensitive U.S. Data to Countries of Concern
On Wednesday, February 28th, 2024, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern (the “EO”). The purpose of the EO is to restrict the mass transfer of certain types of Americans’ personal data to, and to curb…
OFAC issues Russia-related General License 83A
On February 20, 2024, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Russia-related General License (GL) 83A, “Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to Imports of Certain Categories of Fish, Seafood, and Preparations Thereof Prohibited by Executive Order 14068.”
On March 11, 2022, President Biden issued EO 14068 to prohibit, among other…
FinCEN Proposes Delaying Some Beneficial Ownership Filing Deadlines and Releases Additional Guidance for Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting
In advance of the impending January 1, 2024 effective date for the U.S. Treasury Department, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s (“FinCEN’s”) beneficial ownership information (“BOI”) reporting requirements, FinCEN has proposed an extension of the reporting deadline for some reporting companies, and issued additional guidance regarding BOI reporting requirements, including a Small Entity Compliance Guide, a …