ACSS London Connect: EU Subsidiaries & the "Best Efforts" Rule

Michelle Linderman leads Van Bael & Bellis' London-based International Trade team. She specialises in providing clients with strategic and commercial advice on all aspects of international financial and trade sanctions and export control. With over 25 years in practice and more than a decade advising clients on EU and UK sanctions matters she is a genuine sanctions specialist. Michelle also advises on anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering, modern slavery, cybersecurity and other compliance and risk issues. During the course of her career, she has advised a range of clients across numerous sectors including trade, shipping and transport, insurance, banking and finance, technology, manufacturing, energy, and aviation. Michelle’s practice focuses on providing guidance on compliance with EU and UK trade and financial sanctions; advising on the impact of new sanctions on contracts and commercial obligations; drafting and advising on sanctions compliance policies and procedures; drafting and advising on sanctions exclusion clauses and other contractual clauses; advising on sanctions enforcement; conducting internal investigations in relation to suspected sanctions breaches; advising on applications for licences; and responding to government enquiries and investigations. She regularly engages with the UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and other regulators both in the UK and in various EU Member States to apply for licences and authorisations, to seek guidance and to respond to government enquiries and investigations. Michelle also has significant expertise handling complex commercial disputes both in arbitration and litigation. This background in disputes enables her to provide strategic, practical and commercially-focussed guidance to help clients to successfully navigate the increasingly complex web of international sanctions.