Sanctions 2025

BELGIUM Law and Practice Contributed by: Valerijus Ostrovskis, Bogdan Evtimov, Michael De Boeck and Coline Cauvin, ACQUIS

ACQUIS is a European law firm headquartered in Brussels renowned for its leading sanctions and compliance practice. ACQUIS offers a global out - reach and serves clients across Europe, Asia and the USA. The firm’s sanctions team consists of seasoned sanctions and trade lawyers, compliance experts and government affairs specialists. The team regularly advises clients on global sanctions compliance, risk

assessments, divestments, and sanctions-related commercial disputes. Furthermore, the team assists clients in delisting cases, including major multination - als in agricultural, technological or shipping sectors. ACQUIS’ experts are skilled in handling complex transactions and advising clients on optimal strate - gies for sanctions-related challenges.

Authors

Valerijus Ostrovskis is the managing partner and head of the sanctions and export control practice at ACQUIS. He advises multinational companies and foreign governments on UN and EU sanctions, export control rules,

Bogdan Evtimov is a partner at ACQUIS and a first-class EU lawyer and litigator. His first encounter with sanctions was 15 years ago, advising on Iran’s oil embargo and representing the leading Belarus

and EU trade law. Valerijus is recognised for his in-depth knowledge and practical advice. He represents clients before the CJEU and the EC, and advises on EU legislative processes across various sectors. Valerijus holds advanced law degrees, is a member of the Lithuanian and Brussels Bar Associations, and is fluent in English, Russian, Lithuanian, Spanish, Italian and French.

football club challenging sanctions in the EU General Court. Bogdan is highly active in sanctions, export controls, and EU court litigation, as well as WTO matters, EU trade, and international treaties. He has been recognised by Chambers and Partners as one of the leading trade practitioners in Europe for 12 years. Bogdan is admitted to the Bar in Sofia and Brussels, and is fluent in English, French, Russian, and Bulgarian.

Michael De Boeck specialises in EU trade law, sanctions compliance and dispute resolution. With a thorough knowledge of sanctions regulations and disputes, Michael advises companies on compliance in

Coline Cauvin is a dual-qualified (Paris/New York) international lawyer specialising in sanctions and compliance. She advises financial

institutions and corporates on sanctions regimes, anti-money laundering, and complex cross-border transactions. Before joining ACQUIS, she worked at Ernst & Young Société d’Avocats and Vasco Avocats in Paris. She holds an LLM from the University of Illinois and two French Master’s degrees in business law and ethics. Coline is fluent in French and English.

commercial transactions and on auditing and developing internal compliance programmes. He also has extensive experience in sanctions litigation and arbitration across various jurisdictions and sectors, including distribution, M&A, construction, banking, finance, and customs. Michael obtained two Masters of Laws and a dual PhD (Ghent/ Luxembourg). He remains a part-time lecturer in EU law. Michael is admitted to the Bar of Brussels and the Bar of New York and is fluent in English, Dutch and French.

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