Photo of Francesca M.S. Guerrero

Francesca counsels clients on compliance with export controls, sanctions, import regulations, human rights and forced labor, and the FCPA and antibribery laws. She works closely with companies to develop tailored compliance programs that fit their specific needs, and routinely advises clients on some of their most challenging international transactions, involving dealings in high-risk jurisdictions or with high-risk counterparties. Francesca also counsels companies through all phases of internal investigations of potential trade and antibribery violations and represents companies across industries before related government agencies.

On July 10, 2024, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published guidance summarizing the actions it takes to identify and inform industry about parties that present diversion risks to countries or entities of concern. This guidance is offered in an effort “to address the evolving tactics of our adversaries to circumvent

On July 10, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) again extended previous Russia-related General License (GL) 13 by issuing a revised GL 13J, “Authorizing Certain Administrative Transactions Prohibited by Directive 4 under Executive Order 14024,” which states that U.S. persons are authorized to pay taxes, fees, or import

On July 8, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Investment Security issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking to add 59 military installations, across 30 states, to the list of installations around which the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has jurisdiction regarding certain real estate transactions involving foreign persons. 

One week after China’s largest state-run food and agriculture company announced its acquisition of a grain terminal in Cahokia, Illinois, a bipartisan pair of U.S. House members from Illinois urged Treasury Secretary Janet Yellin to conduct “an immediate review of the acquisition to weigh the consequences for America’s national security and the region’s agricultural economy.” 

On July 8, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Venezuela-related General License 40C, “Authorizing Certain Transactions Involving the Exportation or Reexportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas to Venezuela.” This revised general license continues authorization of all transactions and activities related to the exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly

  • The rule would implement Executive Order 14105 of August 9, 2023, “Addressing United States Investments in Certain National Security Technologies and Products in Countries of Concern.”
  • Treasury has reiterated that any final rule will not prohibit all investment in a country of concern, and that the intent of this process is not to

On June 21, 2024, the Department of the Treasury issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), “Addressing United States Investments in Certain National Security Technologies and Products in Countries of Concern.” The NPRM builds on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) issued in August 2023 in response to President Joseph Biden’s Executive Order 14105

BIS Prohibition on Kaspersky Products

On June 20, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a Final Determination that bans a range of transactions involving Kaspersky Lab, Inc. and its related entities’ (Kaspersky) cybersecurity and anti-virus products and services. The Final Determination prohibits Kaspersky from engaging in certain Information

  • New sanctions and export controls on Russia and Belarus became effective June 12, 2024.
  • New OFAC prohibition on certain IT and software services to Russia begins September 12, 2024.
  • Hundreds of individuals and entities designated as SDNs for supporting Russia’s war efforts.
  • New license requirements for certain software exports to Russia and Belarus

On June 12, 2024, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced new sanctions and export control restrictions on Russia and Belarus. These measures have significant implications for companies that do business with or in these regions, as they may face new licensing requirements, limitations, or prohibitions