ACSS London Chapter - Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists

ACSS

London Chapter

NOTHING LIKE OUR CHAPTER EXISTS TO PROMOTE SANCTIONS AWARENESS IN LONDON. COME BE A TRAILBLAZER WITH US!

About Chapter

Come join us to promote sanctions awareness and create a community for sanctions professionals in London! The mission of the ACSS London Chapter will be to serve, inform, and promote sanctions professionals in the London and the Greater London Area. We hold regular events centred around hot topics in the sanctions industry that impact UK sanctions compliance professionals.

All ACSS members can join their local Chapter for free. If you are already an ACSS Member, all you need to do is update your membership profile. Click here to access your membership profile.

Board Members

Tom Cornell

Chapter Chair

Associate
Debevoise & Plimpton
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Tom practises as an associate in Debevoise & Plimpton’s London office. His practice focuses on complex international litigation and advice, with a particular emphasis on public international law and sanctions.

Tom is the co-author of ‘Sanctions Law’, which was published in January 2019 with a view to providing an accessible overview of sanctions law across a number of different jurisdictions. He has continued to write regularly on sanctions developments, and taught a sanctions module as part of the undergraduate law course at Lund University, Sweden.

Prior to joining Debevoise, Tom practised as a barrister and was Judicial Assistant to the Rt. Hon. Lord Dyson MR at the Court of Appeal for Easter and Trinity terms 2015. Tom also worked as a Visiting Professional at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Jonathan Burke

Chapter Advisory Financial Services
Managing Director, Global Head of Banking Sanctions

Citi
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Jonathan joined Citibank in 2019 based in London where he has oversight responsibility for sanctions compliance matters across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) where Citi is physically present in 55 countries. Previously, Jonathan led the sanctions services portfolio within EY’s Financial Services Advisory practice in the U.S., supporting global financial institutions with sanctions compliance program enhancements as well as independent reviews for U.S. and UK regulatory authorities. Prior to that, Jonathan held several positions with the U.S. Government, including senior sanctions policy roles within the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Terrorism & Financial Intelligence as well as roles within the U.S. State Department and in the U.S. Senate.

Stuart Gamester

Chapter Advisory Corporate

Trade Compliance Manager
Shell International Ltd (UK)
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Stuart Gamester has been building and managing Ethics & Compliance processes for over 25 years in various multinational companies and also with Government Legislators, such as the Export Control Organisation and HMRC. Highly experienced in Import / Export controls, Sanctions, AML, ABC, with a UK/EU/US/Asia angle.

Stuart has developed and managed restricted party / KYC screening tools, built compliance processes and systems for trade / customs, risk assessment and management and is a qualified auditor (working with UK Government and multinational defence, pharmaceutical and oil & gas companies).

Out of work Stuart still tries to play cricket and is a Kent Cricket Club qualified coach, coaching at youth level.

Michelle J. Linderman

Chapter Advisory Legal

Partner
Van Bael & Bellis
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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.

Haider Mannan

Chapter Advisory Sanctions Tech

Founder
Big TXN
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Haider Mannan is founder of the risk intelligence data provider BigTXN. He is a data scientist and subject matter expert in investment screening, specialising in ESG controversies, global sanctions and investment restrictions.

Haider is a member of PRMIA’s SME advisory expert group on buy-side investment risk and sits on the membership committee of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF).

ACSS CHAPTER FAQs

Who can join an ACSS Chapter?

Anyone can join an ACSS Chapter! Our Chapters are a place for our members to form a community on the ground, network, and share knowledge with like-minded sanctions professionals. If you are an ACSS member, click here to sign up today.

Is there a Chapter Membership fee?

If you are an ACSS Member, Chapter Membership is included as one of your many benefits! Just check the Chapter page and sign up to the Chapter in your location.

What if there is no Chapter in my location?

If you don’t currently see a Chapter in your city/state/country, let us know! We are always very interested to hear from you if you and your colleagues believe there may be a need for a Chapter in your location. Just email: helpdesk@sanctionsassociation.org.

I'm not sure if I want to become an ACSS Member, what are the benefits?

Chapter Membership is one of the many benefits to being an ACSS Member. To find out about all the benefits ACSS membership has to offer, click here.