The UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has issued Legal Services General License INT/2023/2954852 under regulation 64 of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and regulation 32 of the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, in order to permit persons designated under those sanctions regimes to pay for UK legal services under certain circumstances. The general license, which follows the expiration of GL INT/2022/2252300, takes effect on April 29, 2023 and has a duration of six months.
GL INT/2023/2954852 allows for the payment and receipt of legal fees and expenses beyond the caps for fees and expenses, which are reset to £500,000 and £25,000, respectively. The general license does not, however, support the payment or receipt of professional legal fees and expenses for cases involving defamation or malicious falsehood.
Like its predecessor, GL INT/2023/2954852 requires that activity conducted thereunder be reported to HM Treasury within one week of completion of services or termination of the general license. Records of such transactions must be maintained for at least six years.