Jonathan Benson

Jonathan Benson is a leading expert on UK and EU sanctions, having advised governments and businesses on these and related national security issues for over a decade.

Whilst in private practice, Jonathan has advised on many complex sanctions issues. Geographically his advice has touched on numerous sanctions regimes including those targeting Russia, Crimea, Belarus, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela and Syria. Contextually he has advised a panoply of international companies on large M&A and financing transactions, including multiple Russia exit transactions, and on many complex compliance and enforcement scenarios.

Before returning to private practice, Jonathan served as a senior lawyer at the U.K. Department for International Trade and the UK Ministry of Defence. His work included advising on a range of national security and trade-related issues. Jonathan played a key role in the preparation of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 and in setting up the UK's post-Brexit trade sanctions enforcement framework as the lead legal advisor to the Export Control Joint Unit.

In addition to advising on sanctions, Jonathan’s practice includes advising on a broader pallet of export controls, anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws, human rights issues, foreign direct investment controls and international trade law. Notable examples of his broader work include advising a Middle Eastern state on the international trade and customs issues associated with the establishment of a new special economic zone and the drafting of its associated legal framework, and advising a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund on the negotiation of one of the first final orders made under the UK's National Security and Investment Act 2021.

Jonathan is a counsel at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP.