Josh Hitchens of Outer Temple Chambers in Administrative Court in latest sanctions de-listing challenge

Josh Hitchens appears in third ever de-listing claim against the FCDO under the UK’s post-Brexit sanctions framework and the second to be brought under the Russia Regulations.

On 15 and 16 November 2023, the High Court heard the second claim brought against the FCDO under s.38 Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 in respect of the Russia Regulations. Josh Hitchens appeared as sole counsel for the Claimant. The case before Swift J concerned the lawfulness of interferences with the right to freedom of expression through sanctions designations and the proper approach to rational connection and proportionality when considering whether interferences with Convention Rights are lawful in a sanctions context.

Outer Temple barristers have represented the Claimants in two out of the three de-listing claims against the FCDO to be brought following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with Alex Haines and Sophie O’Sullivan having represented the Claimants in the first de-listing challenge (Belarus Regime), LLC Synesis v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs [2023] EWHC 541 (Admin).

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Josh Hitchens

Josh acts in high-profile and high value disputes across commercial and public law. He is currently instructed in proceedings concerning the enforcement of a $2 billion arbitration award, a high value cross-border dispute in the High Court and a number of complex civil fraud cases. He has considerable experience of financial services regulation and  litigation having previously spent several months on secondment advising the Bank of England. Josh has a particular expertise in sanctions and international trade.

To find out more about Josh, contact Sam Carter on +44 (0)203 989 6669 or George Bennett on +44 (0)207 427 0807.

News 17 Nov, 2023