International Trade, Sanctions & Export Control

Legal advice on international trade regulation and sanctions compliance

Translating complex international trade restrictions into clear, actionable advice

International trade is increasingly shaped by geopolitical tension, rapidly evolving sanctions regimes and expanding export control obligations. Businesses operating across borders face complex, often extraterritorial rules that directly affect transactions, supply chains, financing and technology transfers.

Wolf Theiss advises clients on navigating international trade restrictions, economic sanctions and export control regimes across the CEE/SEE region. We help companies manage regulatory risk, maintain compliance and respond effectively to enforcement and crisis situations arising from sanctions and export control breaches.

Our team advises on the full spectrum of international trade controls, including:

EU restrictive measures and trade sanctions
Export controls on dual use goods, advanced technologies and defence related items
US, UK and UN sanctions with extraterritorial impact on CEE/SEE based businesses
Trade and investment restrictions linked to national security and foreign policy

We combine deep regulatory knowledge with practical commercial insight, supporting clients across highly regulated sectors such as energy, defence, manufacturing, technology, finance and transportation. We work seamlessly across practice areas, including regulatory, investigations, white collar crime, finance and M&A, to deliver integrated solutions to sanctions related challenges.

Key Contacts

International Trade, Sanctions & Export Control

All team members

Areas of Specialisation

We support clients throughout the entire lifecycle of trade related risk, including:

Sanctions and export control compliance

Advising on the applicability and impact of EU, US, UK and UN sanctions and export control regimes; assisting with risk assessments, internal policies and compliance frameworks, penalties and criminal liability.

Product classification and licensing

Advising on dual use and military related classifications, licensing requirements, exemptions and reporting obligations under EU and national export control regimes.

Transactional and supply chain support

Advising on sanctions and export control issues in M&A, joint ventures, financing, distribution and long term supply arrangements, including due diligence and contractual protections.

Foreign Direct Investment regulations

Advising on FDI screening regimes, notification and approv¬al requirements and interactions with competent authorities, helping clients assess regulatory expo¬sure and manage compliance risks.

Enforcement & remedial actions

Supporting clients in internal investigations, interactions with competent authorities, voluntary disclosures and enforcement proceedings arising from alleged sanctions or export control violations.

Sanctions breaches

Advising on potential sanctions breaches, including risk assessments, responses to suspected violations, internal investigations, reporting obligations and defence strategies in regulatory inquiries or enforcement proceedings related to alleged sanctions breaches.

Export licence for dual use technology under EU sanctions

We advised a Fortune 500 global biotechnology company on obtaining an export licence for highly technical dual use items. Navigating a fast evolving sanctions regime, our team provided precise export control guidance to ensure full compliance and protect uninterrupted business operations.

EU sanctions compliance for US technology start up

We provide ongoing advice to a U.S. technology start up on EU sanctions compliance and have successfully represented the company in several cross border matters, including securing sanctions exemptions for intra group services. Our guidance helps the client navigate complex regulatory requirements while supporting its seamless operations across jurisdictions.

Appeal proceedings on export clearance under EU sanctions

Representing a leading global pharmaceutical company in appeal proceedings against the Austrian authorities’ refusal to grant export clearance for medical and pharmaceutical products under EU sanctions related to Russia. Our team advises on both strategic and technical aspects, navigating complex sanctions rules to protect the client’s ability to supply essential products.

FDI screening and merger control for Romanian acquisition

Advised a global industrial technology company on its acquisition of assets from a Romanian manufacturer, including preparing the FDI filing and guiding the client through the screening process. We also conducted a merger control assessment and negotiated the transaction documents to ensure full alignment with FDI related conditions precedent.