On February 6, 2026, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC) announced the launch of a new online Voluntary Self-Disclosure (VSD) Portal (the “New Portal”) intended to replace and reduce reliance on ad hoc submission methods with a more secure channel for reporting to OFAC potential sanctions violations. OFAC states that
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
Altomare SA and Kallista Removed from OFAC’s SDN List
On January 21, 2026, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the removal of Greek maritime company Altomare SA and its vessel, Kallista, from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons Lists (SDN List).
OFAC originally designated Altomare SA and Kallista in November 2025 as part of a counter terrorism sanctions action…
OFAC Fines U.S. Private Equity Fund for Russian Sanctions Violations
On December 2, 2025, OFAC announced an ~$11 million penalty settlement with IPI Partners, LLC (“IPI”), a Chicago-based U.S. private equity fund, to settle its civil liability for 51 potential violations of OFAC’s Russia sanctions. The enforcement action underscores the importance of diligence to guard against potential sanctions violations. In brief, OFAC found that IPI…
President Trump’s Executive Orders & Actions – Sanctions
President Trump signed a raft of Executive Orders (E.O.) in the initial days of his new administration, several of which relate to sanctions. Here is an initial run-down:
Designating Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
On January 20, the President signed an executive order that creates a process for cartels and “other transnational organizations such…
Parting Shots by Biden Administration in the Form of Sweeping New Russia Sanctions
- On the 10th, OFAC and the State Department aggressively targeted the Russian energy sector by designating major Russian oil companies liquefied natural
OFAC Issues New Syria General License and Updates FAQs
On January 6, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Syria General License 24, which authorizes transactions with governing institutions in Syria and certain activities related to energy and personal remittances. OFAC explained it issued General License 24 in light of the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government and…
OFAC Issues Necessary and Long-Awaited Updated Guidance for (Re)Insurance Industry
On November 13, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s (“Treasury’s”) Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) updated its FAQs for insurers in a long-awaited move to modernize its published sanctions compliance guidance for the insurance industry. None of the industry-specific FAQs had been updated since January 2015, and many had not been amended in…
OFAC Extends Recordkeeping Requirements from 5 to 10 Years Through Interim Final Rule
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…
OFAC, State Department, and BIS Expand Russian/Belarusian Sanctions
On August 23rd, 2024, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the U.S. Department of State (State), and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) acted against Russia’s international supply chains.
OFAC and State collectively sanctioned nearly 400 individuals and entities. Of note, this included a substantial focus on…
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…