EMBARGOED!

In this emergency episode, host Tim O'Toole is joined again by colleague Melissa Burgess (Miller & Chevalier) to discuss sanctions aspects of the June 17, 2026, Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Iran and legal considerations impacting the lifting of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The episode reviews paragraphs 7 and 10 of the MOU before taking a...

In this episode, host Tim O'Toole is joined by special guests Brad Brooks-Rubin (Arktouros) and Dr. David Soud (I.R. Consilium), as well as colleagues Collmann Griffin and Melissa Burgess (Miller & Chevalier), to discuss the many connections between gold and sanctions. The episode begins by exploring gold as a natural resource, the gold supply chain, and the difficulties of tracing gold. We al...

In this episode, host Tim O'Toole is again joined by colleagues Collmann Griffin and Melissa Burgess (Miller & Chevalier) and special guests Erik Woodhouse (former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB) at the Department of State) and Joshua Kretman (former Deputy Assistant Secretary (Acting) in EB, who also spent...

In this episode, host Tim O’Toole is joined by colleagues Collmann Griffin and Melissa Burgess (Miller & Chevalier), and special guests Erik Woodhouse (former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB) at the Department of State) and Joshua Kretman (former Deputy Assistant Secretary (Acting) in EB, who also spent seve...

In this episode, Host Tim O'Toole is once again joined by Melissa Burgess, Counsel at Miller & Chevalier. Tim and Melissa discuss the major events and developments in 2025 for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and the Outbound Investment program that is sometimes referred to as "Reverse CFIUS" (because it involves restrictions on U.S. investment into foreign coun...

Host Tim O'Toole is joined by guests Melissa Burgess (Counsel at Miller & Chevalier) and Michael Burton (Partner at Jacobsen Burton Kelley) to make their draft picks from a pool of Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) actions in 2025. Throughout the draft, they dissect each other’s choices, issue some compliments, suggest New Year's resolutions for the agency, and propose a new test for BIS a...

Happy new year from your friends at EMBARGOED! Tim and Miller & Chevalier's Caroline Watson and Collmann Griffin draft the most significant OFAC events of 2025. The draft is three rounds and picks include sanctions relating to Iran, narco-trafficking, Yemen, Russia, Venezuela, Syria, China, and the International Criminal Court (ICC). ******* Thanks to our guests for joining us: Collmann Griffi...

On this episode of EMBARGOED!, host Tim O'Toole is joined by Miller & Chevalier's Collmann Griffin and Claire O'Neill McCleskey, former Head of the OFAC Compliance Division, to discuss sanctions compliance in the shipping industry. Roadmap: Typologies Iran Russia, including Lukoil/Rosneft and price cap North Korea How can you protect yourself? Best commercial screening tools Tips for insurers...

This week, host Tim O'Toole chats with Damien Spleeters (Conflict Armament Research) and return guest Collmann Griffin (Miller & Chevalier) about how bad actors use sophisticated evasion tactics to circumvent U.S. export controls and sanctions to obtain components America's adversaries need for missiles, drones, and other weapons systems. Roadmap: Background on Conflict Armament Research (CAR)...

On this episode of EMBARGOED!, host Tim O'Toole is joined by Matteson Ellis (Latin America Practice Lead at Miller & Chevalier) discuss all the sanctions news from Latin America, with a focus on recent developments in Mexico. Roadmap: Introduction, Matt goes to Mexico Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and LatAm Mexico, FTOs, and FinCEN orders What's happening on the ground The rest of Lat...

On this episode of EMBARGOED!, host Tim O'Toole, Miller & Chevalier Counsel Melissa Burgess and Collmann Griffin, and guest Chris Chamberlain of Morrison & Foerster continue their discussion of AI chip-related export controls, musing about Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) considerations, semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME), and the much-anticipated BIS release of a 50 Percent Rul...

On this episode of EMBARGOED!, host Tim O'Toole is joined by Miller & Chevalier Counsel Melissa Burgess and Collmann Griffin, and guest Chris Chamberlain of Morrison & Foerster to review the evolution of export controls on AI chips from October 2022 to the present. The discussion explores the variety of tools BIS has employed as it wrestles with tailoring controls, the value of BIS "is inf...

Host Tim O'Toole discusses the latest EU sanctions on Russia with returning guests Collmann Griffin (Miller & Chevalier) and Dr. Tobias Ackermann (BLOMSTEIN). They focus on EU sanctions on Russia imposed that may be stricter than or conflict with their U.S. counterparts. Roadmap: Logistics of the sanctions Imports and purchase - aluminum and Russian petroleum Software Finance and crypto "Best...

On this episode of EMBARGOED! Host Tim O'Toole is joined by guests Melissa Burgess (Miller & Chevalier) and Dr. Tobias Ackerman (BLOMSTEIN) to compare and contrast the foreign investment review regimes in the EU and Germany with the CFIUS process in the U.S. Roadmap: Brief introduction to Germany's FDI regime and the EU regime A quick history of CFIUS Exploration of the types of transactions s...

Host Tim O'Toole is joined by fellow Miller & Chevalier Member Leah Moushey to unpack the recent conviction of Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, an outcome that surprised many given the jury's deadlock on the more severe money laundering and sanctions charges.   The discussion explores how this case reflects the evolving enforcement la...

In this episode of EMBARGOED!, host Tim O'Toole and his guest, Miller & Chevalier Counsel Collmann Griffin, make predictions of what's next in sanctions and export controls, including Russia, Iran, Latin America, and AI chips. Roadmap: Intro Upcoming Russia sanctions and tariffs Likelihood of an Iran deal Latin America, Foreign Terrorist Organizations, Mexico, Brazil, and human rights sanction...

On this episode of EMBAROGED!, host Tim O'Toole and his guests, Miller & Chevalier Counsel Melissa Burgess and Collmann Griffin, explore the various ways the U.S. government lifts sanctions programs and corresponding export controls. Roadmap: So you want to lift sanctions: How can you do it? What complexities might be involved? A quick tour of history: Lifting sanctions under TWEA Section 5(b)...

This week on EMBARGOED!, host Tim O'Toole is joined by Dr. Tobias Ackermann (BLOMSTEIN) and Caroline Watson (Miller & Chevalier) discuss the growing divergence between the U.S. and EU on key trade issues including economic sanctions on Russia, reciprocal tariffs, and export controls. Roadmap: Increasing disparity between U.S. and EU regulations and policies, regarding Russia EU's release of 16...

On this episode of EMBARGOED!, Tim and guests Matt Fogarty (Lead Counsel – Trade & Human Rights, General Motors) and Caroline Watson (Counsel, Miller & Chevalier) talking about the new Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) regulations with a focus on China, cars, and tech. Roadmap: Background and rationale of ICTS regulations The amended ICTS transaction review regu...

Host Tim O'Toole and guests Melissa Burgess (Miller & Chevalier) and Johanna Reeves (Reeves & Dola, LLP) discuss changes to the ITAR that came into effect in 2024, proposed rules that could be finalized in 2025, and the enforcement outlook for the new year. Roadmap: Updates: Addition of Nicaragua as a 126.1 country and new DDTC guidance for universities Deeper dives Expansion of § 120.54:...

On this episode, host Tim O'Toole and guests Richard Mojica and Laura Deegan of Miller & Chevalier discuss potential tariffs (including IEEPA and China) and sanctions  changes (including Venezuela and Iran) in a second Trump term.   ******* Thanks to our guests for joining us: Richard Mojica: https://www.millerchevalier.com/professional/richard-mojica   Laura Deegan: https://www.millerchevalie...

On this week's EMBARGOED!, host Tim O'Toole and Miller & Chevalier's Melissa Burgess, with guest Don Pearce, currently a Senior Advisor with Torres Trade Advisory and a retired BIS Special Agent, discuss the role of BIS Special Agents in enforcement actions, plus updates to BIS enforcement policies, recent enforcement actions, and best practices for industry. Roadmap: Introduction The role of...

On this episode of EMBARGOED!, host Tim O'Toole and Miller & Chevalier Counsel Laura Deegan discuss how the upcoming U.S. elections could affect sanctions policy. Roadmap: Introduction A new administration is coming - What would a President Harris do? What would a President Trump do? Changes in Treasury and State appointees Country by Country: Iran, Russia, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba *******...

Host Tim O'Toole and Miller & Chevalier Senior Associate Melissa Burgess discuss export control considerations for universities, plus new export controls on advanced tech and revisions to the BIS voluntary self-disclosure regulations. Roadmap: Introduction Upcoming speaking, podcasts, and events New BIS export control compliance resources for the academic community Compliance Note and Compendi...

This week on EMBARGOED!, host Tim O'Toole is joined by BLOMSTEIN's Dr. Florian Wolf and Hanna Sophie Kurtz to discuss the 14th EU sanctions package against Russia and other sanctions topics. Roadmap: Introduction Background to the 14th EU sanctions package against Russia: Why was it necessary? Why was it delayed? What is its purpose, scope, and applicability? What are details of its legal framewor...