In a series of sanctions seminars organised by Steamship’s European offices, the Club’s Limassol office hosted a sanctions seminar focused on legal and insurance insights on 4 September, 2025,
The panel was moderated by Steamship’s Marcela Pineda, Claims Manager in the Cyprus office, and comprised Michael Potter, First Secretary (Security) at the British High Commission in Cyprus , Alex Brandt, Partner at Reed Smith LLP, London, and Sacha Patel, Director of Legal Services from Steamship’s London office.
The seminar brought together professionals from the local shipping, insurance, and finance sectors to explore the evolving landscape of sanctions enforcement and its implications for international business operations.
Michael Potter opened the session with an insightful reference to the knock-on effect of the Russian – Ukraine war and the consequent sanctions that followed, and highlighted the High Commissioner’s determination to assist local entities in liaising with the UK authorities for sanctions-related clarifications.
Alex Brandt, who heads the sanctions practice within Reed Smith’s Transportation Industry Group, provided practical guidance on due diligence and risk mitigation. Drawing on recent case studies, Alex highlighted the importance of integrating sanctions compliance into broader governance and risk strategies, noting that the key is not just to comply, but to anticipate problems and hurdles that could be faced if a claim involving sanctions issues were to occur.
Sacha Patel, emphasised the increasing complexity of sanctions regimes and the severe effect that a potential sanctions breach could entail for the Club and its Members, and the need for proper reporting, record keeping and stringent compliance frameworks.
The seminar also featured a Q&A session, where attendees engaged with the speakers on topics ranging from OFAC investigations to EU and UK regulatory developments. Participants praised the session for its clarity, relevance, and actionable insights.
Following the seminar, guests were invited to join a lunch reception.
The Club’s Cyprus office was pleased to welcome the many guests that attended the seminar, and is grateful to both Michael Potter and Alex Brandt for their participation on the panel.
The next sanctions seminar is hosted by the Club's Greek office in Piraeus on 11 September when Alex Brandt and Sacha Patel will again be on the panel but joined by the UK Ambassador to Greece Mr Matthew Lodge, and with Francis Vrettos of Steamship Mutual acting as moderator.
For details on upcoming seminars or to explore related materials, please visit Steamship’s Publications and Resources section on the Club’s website, and follow Steamship Mutual on LinkedIn to stay updated and be among the first to hear about future events.
