Member of the Paris Bar, Nicolas Burnichon is an associate at Hughes Hubbard’s Paris office and a member of the firm’s Sanctions, Export Controls & Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations practices.
Nicolas has developed specific expertise in EU and U.S. sanctions and export controls, which he shares with clients in particular when creating and deploying compliance programs tailored to the type and size of their business, conducting investigations, and audits, as well as interacting with the relevant government authorities.
His expertise has also led him to advise national and international companies active in various sectors, such as energy, insurance, finance, retail and crypto-currency, on corruption and money laundering issues, which enables him to have a transversal and pragmatic overview of all aspects of compliance issues.
Prior to joining Hughes Hubbard & Reed, Nicolas worked for three years at a major French bank in Paris and New York, dealing with U.S. and EU sanctions issues. He also worked in French and Anglo-Saxon law firms where he assisted financial institutions and international groups on compliance and M&A matters.
Highlighted Publications
“Panorama of European sanctions against Russia and their impact”, Revue Lamy Droit des affaires (Wolters Kluwer), October 2022 (with Jan Dunin-Wasowicz).
“An Update on EU sanctions against Russia (May – September 2022)”, International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics, October 2022 (with Jan Dunin-Wasowicz and Aurore Maroteau)
“Business and Human Rights as part of the European Strategic Autonomy”, La Revue des juristes de Sciences Po, March 2022 (with Jan Dunin-Wasowicz and Adèle Bourgin)
“The EU Blocking Statute at a Crossroads”, International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics, February 2022 (with Jan Dunin-Wasowicz and Niki Khonkarova-Helsing)
“Collision Avoided? Court of Justice of the European Union Gives Effect to EU Blocking Statute While Offering a Way Out of Conflict with U.S. Secondary Sanctions”, Compliance & Enforcement, New York University School of Law, February 2022 (with Jan Dunin-Wasowicz)
“Key Trends that will shape the Financial Crime Compliance Landscape in 2022”, interview recorded for LexisNexis, Risk Solutions, January 2022
“L’Emergence de régimes de sanctions économiques contre la Chine aux contours encore incertains”, Le Monde du droit, August 2020
“La place et les enjeux des mesures de contrôle à l’export et des sanctions économiques dans le contexte de la pandémie du Covid-19”, La Semaine Juridique - Entreprise et Affaires – no. 15-16, April 2020
“Les risques de conformité dans le cadre d’une prise de participations dans une société africaine”, Option Finance/Option Droit & Affaire, December 2019 (with Sena Agbayissah)
Sanctions and export controls
Conducted economic sanctions and export controls risk mapping for a multinational energy company.
Advised multinational companies on a multitude of EU, U.S. and UK sanctions programs, including Belarus, Central African Republic, China, Cuba, Libya, Hong -Kong, Iran, Lebanon, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Crimea, and Syria.
Assisted in the creation and implementation of an economic sanctions and export controls compliance program and related training for a multinational energy company.
Provided sanctions and export controls compliance advice for a multinational luxury goods company.
Assisted with negotiating sanctions and export controls clauses.
Advised multinational companies on EU export controls issues.
Advised several companies on sanctions and export controls risks and mitigation strategies for transactions in the U.S., Latin America, Europe, and Asia, notably by reaching out to the relevant authorities.
Provided economic sanctions and export controls training for multiple companies.
Anti-money laundering and financing terrorism
Advised an African financial institution on obtaining AML 30.000 certification.
Assisted an insurance company during an ACPR (French authority monitoring the activities of banks and insurance companies) AML-CFT control.
Provided AML-CFT training for multiple companies.
Advised multiple companies on AML-CFT matters.
Assessed the French AML/CFT frameworks of multiple companies before they entered into partnerships.
Provided AML/CFT compliance advice for a multinational luxury goods company.
Anti-corruption
Assisted a defense company during a French Anti-Corruption Agency audit.
Assisted a multinational energy company in connection with a worldwide risk assessment and compliance review.
Advised multiple companies on anti-corruption issues.
Provided anti-corruption training for several companies.
