Iris Karaman

“A real dream team of professional legal advisors.”
“Very highly skilled and make an effort to understand their clients’ needs.”

—The Legal 500 UK

Iris Karaman advises clients on all aspects of international trade and investment law.

Iris helps clients understand and comply with complex EU and UK sanctions, export controls, foreign direct investment (FDI) screening, customs and carbon-related import taxes, supply chain due diligence, and AML and anti-bribery and corruption compliance. She guides clients through successfully obtaining strategic export control and sanctions licenses, as well as FDI screening and national security clearance. She also represents clients before government institutions and enforcement bodies including, among others, the European Commission, Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Export Control Joint Unit, Investment Security Unit and U.S. Department of Justice. Iris has experience advising companies across different sectors including banking and financial institutions, technology, aviation, shipping and defense.

Representative Experience

Advising multiple clients on all aspects of compliance with EU and UK international sanctions regimes (including against Russia and Belarus) and export controls.
Advising and representing clients in voluntary disclosures and investigations before UK and EU export control, sanctions and customs authorities, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice and Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Advising various clients on obtaining foreign direct investment review clearance in the UK and EU member states, including in relation to acquisitions in the defense, cybersecurity, data processing, pharmaceutical and data center industries.

Guiding clients in the oil and gas, nuclear, aerospace, technology and financial services sectors through successfully obtaining strategic UK and EU sanctions and export control licenses.

Conducting global risk assessments on trade compliance and advising on the implementation of compliance uplift programs for companies in the oil and gas, nuclear, technology, mining, metals and technology sectors.

Professional Highlights

Prior to joining Pillsbury, Iris was an international trade and investment associate in the London office of a global law firm. Iris also worked on international trade law matters at the United Nations and other inter-governmental organizations, and provided ongoing advice to the UK government on the negotiation of free trade agreements.

Education

Legal Practice Course, BPP Law School, 2018
With distinction

Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP Law School, 2017
With distinction

M.Phil., Development Studies (Economics), University of Cambridge, 2016
With distinction

B.A., Politics, Philosophy and Economics, University of Warwick, 2015
With first class honours