Rachel Barnes

Rachel Barnes is an English barrister specialising in international economic sanctions. Described as ‘Fantastic, especially in relation to sanctions work’ (Chambers UK 2016: Financial Crime), Rachel is known for her strategic approach in dealing with regulators and other third parties in cases involving sanctions breaches and in assisting companies to comply with overlapping sanctions laws and regulations.

Clients value her U.S. legal background (NY Bar) as well as her wider practice in cross-border criminal investigations, extradition and MLA, public law and commercial cases. She ‘has carved out a niche fraud practice at the juncture of civil and criminal litigation. Instructing solicitors particularly value her knowledge of international law.’ ‘A star of the future.’ (Chambers UK 2014: Fraud).

Recent advisory work includes:

• High Street company and matters arising from suspected breaches of financial sanctions
• Internet technology company and business development in Iran
• P&I club (marine insurance) and sanctions breaches by policyholder’s charterparty
• EU parent company with international subsidiaries: directors’ and officers’ liabilities for sanctions breaches
• Medical supplies company and breaches of Iran sanctions
• EU sanctions against Russia in the context of a high-value share purchase agreement
• Lloyd’s insurance market and a share purchase agreement
• UK exporter and financial payments on behalf of Iranian customers
• Marine insurance and sanctions against Libya
• Lloyd’s managing agent and sanctions against Iran
• EU communications firm and the repatriation of assets from Iran

Rachel has also acted for clients challenging their designation under international sanctions programmes before the English High Court, in the EU and the UN Security Council Ombudsperson. She prosecutes (acts for the Government) as well as defends.

Rachel regularly writes and presents on international sanctions laws. Forthcoming publications include ‘United States Sanctions: Delisting Applications, Judicial Review and Secret Evidence’ in Happold & Eden (eds), Sanctions and Embargos in International Law (Hart Pub. 2016). Rachel taught a graduate course on the Law of International Economic Sanctions at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) between 2009-2013 and has provided evidence to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee on the impact of economic sanctions. Rachel was awarded her PhD from Cambridge University in 2006 for her thesis on the UN Security Council’s use of economic sanctions.