Washington, D.C. and New York, May 15, 2017 – Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP announced today that Sean Kane joined the firm as Counsel in its International Trade Group.

Kane was most recently Deputy Assistant Director for Policy in the Office of Foreign Assets Control in the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

About Sean Kane

As Deputy Assistant Director for Policy in the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Kane played a leading role in several high-profile sanctions initiatives, including the development and implementation of the Russia sanctions program and the recent easing of sanctions against Sudan. Working alongside the Assistant Director for Policy at OFAC, Kane oversaw a team of sanctions policy advisors and worked directly with the OFAC director and Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence to develop and implement sanctions measures across more than 30 portfolios, including those related to Iran, Russia, Cuba, Sudan, North Korea, counterterrorism, and counter-narcotics. He frequently led outreach to foreign governments and the private sector to coordinate the implementation of sanctions policies and to facilitate compliance with existing measures in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Kane also played a leading role in shaping the development of new sanctions authorities, OFAC regulations, and policy guidance, coordinating closely with interagency partners at the National Security Council (NSC), U.S. Department of State, and the Bureau of Industry and Security at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Kane also regularly engaged with Congress on pending or proposed sanctions legislation, and worked closely with colleagues at the Treasury Department on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) issues, as well as Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) matters.

Prior to this role, Kane worked as Senior Sanctions Policy Advisor at OFAC, where he developed policy for consideration by senior Treasury officials and served as a primary interagency liaison for the NSC, Department of State and Intelligence Community. He also served as a License Examining Officer in the Office of Foreign Assets Control in the Treasury.

Earlier in his career, Kane worked as Head of Risk Consultancy at the AKE Group in London, and as a Global Risk Analyst in the London office of Merchant International Group.

Kane received a J.D. degree with honors from George Washington University Law School and a B.A., cum laude, from the University of Florida.

About The International Trade Group

Hughes Hubbard’s International Trade practice helps clients navigate the complex international trade regulatory environment, advising and representing clients in the entire range of import, export, national security and trade-related regulatory matters. The team includes internationally recognized lawyers with decades of senior government service and private practice experience, drawing on deep knowledge of trade, credibility with government regulators, and a creative approach to advocacy to deliver excellent results on clients’ most critical trade matters.

Ted Mayer, Hughes Hubbard Chair, said:

“In the current political climate, there are few international transactions that don’t, in some way, touch upon U.S. economic sanctions laws and regulations. Sean offers more than 14 years of experience working in the areas of international trade law, risk analysis and consulting, including six years at OFAC. He brings an in-depth understanding of OFAC’s approach to sanctions implementation and enforcement combined with private sector political risk experience that makes him uniquely qualified to help our clients navigate this growing area.”

Amanda DeBusk, Chair of the Trade Group, said:

“The U.S. government has leveraged the dollar’s privileged role in international trade and finance to exert economic pressure in support of its foreign policy, and in recent years, the sanctions tool has been used with increasing frequency. Sanctions are no longer a blunt instrument but rather a set of tools, and OFAC has developed calibrated response options to a range of issues. Corporations need to identify their potential exposure, mitigate their exposure, and take advantage of authorized opportunities. Sean’s broad OFAC experience makes him uniquely suited to identify, address and mitigate the sanctions compliance issues facing corporate clients. We are pleased to welcome him to the Trade Group.”

Sean Kane said:

“The growing size and profile of the U.S. government’s sanctions enforcement actions has led to an increased focus on OFAC within the private sector. Companies around the world require help in understanding their potential exposure, navigating the world of licenses, voluntary disclosures and government relations and mitigating the potential fallout of an enforcement action. By the same measure, many businesses are uncertain about what transactions are beyond the bounds of U.S. sanctions, and which have been explicitly authorized by OFAC. 

“This requires representation that offers first-hand knowledge of OFAC’s regulations and authorities, as well as its licensing, investigations and enforcement process. I know first-hand the caliber of the international trade team at Hughes Hubbard, and am thrilled to be joining such a well-established and highly-regarded group of lawyers.”

About Hughes Hubbard

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP is a New York City-based international law firm with a relentless focus on providing quality service to our clients and delivering successful results in the most complex matters.  With a powerful combination of scale and agility, we offer clients innovative and effective solutions, while remaining flexible to adapt to their needs and market developments. Known for a collaborative culture, as well as our diversity and pro bono achievements, Hughes Hubbard has a distinguished history dating back more than a century. For more information, visit hugheshubbard.com.