Overview
Steptoe partner Alexandra Melia and associate Elliot Letts authored both the introductory section and the United Kingdom chapter in Lexology’s 2026 edition of Panoramic: Sanctions. Their introduction paints a picture of sanctions as a central and evolving tool of modern statecraft, shaped by geopolitics, globalization and heightened enforcement expectations. They discuss the evolution of the role that sanctions play across the world, namely now in the digital age.
In their chapter, Alexandra and Elliot take a UK-focused approach to display how global trends are implemented in practice, citing specific UK procedures and laws. In conjunction, their two pieces demonstrate how sanctions are becoming more pervasive, more heavily enforced, and more interconnected with export controls, national security, and anti‑money laundering regimes, making sanctions compliance a strategic, long‑term priority rather than a niche legal issue.
Read the full article in Lexology’s Panoramic: Sanctions 2026 (registration may be required).