Julien Blanquart

Julien Blanquart is an International Trade associate in the Governmental Practice in the firm's Brussels and London offices.

Areas of Practice

Julien’s practice focuses on international trade compliance, including U.S., EU, and UK export controls, economic sanctions, customs regulations, and anti-bribery laws. He advises financial institutions, technology, space and aerospace companies, multinational corporations, and start-ups on complex multi-jurisdictional compliance issues under these frameworks.

He has particular expertise in managing complex sanctions and export control matters, including advisory work on sensitive financial transactions, technology transfer in the aerospace and semiconductor industries, and licensing applications before U.S. and EU national authorities. He also has significant experience in trade defense, representing both the domestic industry and exporting producers in EU anti-subsidy and anti-dumping investigations.

His practice includes advising clients on internal audits, investigations, voluntary self-disclosures, and the design and implementation of compliance programs. He frequently assists companies in coordinating cross-border compliance strategies that account for differences in regulatory interpretation and enforcement across jurisdictions.

Julien also advises clients on all aspects of European and French competition law, including mergers, cartels, abuse of dominance, and State aid across all sectors and industries. His experience in EU regulatory matters includes advising on sector-specific regulations, such as product liability, medical devices, telecommunications, motor vehicles, and automotive components. He also advises on a broad range of EU regulatory and compliance issues affecting market access and cross-border trade of products and services within the EU.

In addition, Julien serves as a Visiting Professor at Lille Catholic University, where he teaches International Trade Law. He maintains an active pro bono practice supporting NGOs and nonprofit organizations on compliance, governance, and cross-border operations.

Experience

Julien’s recent work includes:

Sanctions

• Advised French car rental company on compliance with U.S. and EU sanctions on Iran
• Advised Italian finance and insurance bank on compliance with U.S. sanctions on Iran, Sudan, and Russia
• Advised multinational engineering firm on pipeline project in joint venture with Russia
• Designed compliance measures for satellite communications company to provide services to ships entering territorial waters of sanctioned countries
• Advised European financial institutions on compliance with U.S., EU, and UK sanctions in connection with securities transactions, blocked funds, and correspondent banking activities
• Advised companies in the technology and communications sectors on sanctions risks linked to user access, subscription payments, and operations in Russia and other high-risk jurisdictions
• Assisted corporates in designing compliance measures and obtaining authorizations from EU national authorities for activities involving Russian subsidiaries
• Conducted sanctions risk assessments for infrastructure and energy projects with exposure to restricted parties
• Designed sanctions policies, escalation protocols, and training programs for multinational organizations

Export Control

• Advised aerospace and semiconductor companies on export control classifications and licensing requirements under U.S. and EU regulations
• Assisted in securing U.S. and EU export licenses for multiple clients across various industries
• Conducted internal audits and investigations into potential export control violations for defense and technology clients
• Prepared voluntary self-disclosures (VSDs) for semiconductor and space companies in connection with potential export violations
• Advised on compliance measures for technology transfers and intangible technology transfers (ITT)

CFIUS, Cross-Border Transactions and Due Diligence

• Advised French conglomerate on a €850 million strategic acquisition of a U.S. renewable energy company
• Advised on CFIUS and EU screening processes in connection with cross-border acquisitions in the technology, infrastructure, and energy sectors
• Conducted due diligence on national security and sanctions risks for transactions involving U.S. and EU targets

Customs and Free Trade Agreements

• Resolved various country of origin, classification and valuation cases involving imports in the U.S., EU, and South America
• Assisted food and beverage companies with Customs classifications and country of origin markings under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
• Advised several U.S. manufacturers on submitting comments on and requesting exemptions from the imposition of Section 301 tariffs on products and components from China

Trade Defense / Trade Remedies

• Represented both domestic industry and exporting producers in EU anti-subsidy and anti-dumping investigations conducted by the European Commission

Antibribery investigations

• Advised a French CAC 40 company in the design and implementation of its corruption risk mapping in response to a potential audit by the French anticorruption agency (AFA)
• Conducted internal reviews of local expenditure and third-party risks in high-risk jurisdictions for a staffing agency

EU Competition

• Advised a Danish variety store chain on merger filing in France
• Advised a Japanese electronics company on an internal audit and strategy on leniency

EU Regulatory

• Advised Air France-KLM in securing the European Commission’s approval for up to €4 billion in French State aid to recapitalise Air France to help it overcome the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and plan for the future
• Advised a Dutch medical device company on French market entry strategy and the appropriate regulatory pathway
• Advised a French pharmaceutical laboratory on compliance with requirements affecting the launch of medical devices under Directive 93/42/EEC
• Advised a Canadian bike manufacturer on product liability issues affecting products sold in several Member States

EU Litigation

• Assisted in the representation of an EU citizen challenging the EU Commission’s decision prohibiting a Member State from paying damages ordered under an arbitral award

Pro Bono and Nonprofit Compliance

• Conducted compliance and governance reviews for nonprofit organizations, including sanctions and export control risk assessments
• Advised a Ukrainian NGO on donor vetting, governance, and cross-border operational structures
• Represented a Croatian NGO in a grant contract dispute with the European Commission

Honors

• Recognized by Legal 500 Belgium in International Trade, 2024

Articles

FCC Law Blog Posts

• "UPDATE: National Security Meets Teenage Dance Battles: U.S. Increases Pressure on ByteDance Sale of TikTok," August 17, 2020

French Desk Blog Posts

• "Foreign-owned companies operating in the United States must file a 5 year survey with the U.S. Department of Commerce by May 31, 2023 (for paper filings) and June 30, 2023 (for electronic filings)," May 3, 2023

Global Trade Law Blog Posts

• "Keeping an EAR Out for Syria: BIS Reduces Export Controls," September 9, 2025

• “'Lost in Transposition' – Commission Targets 18 Member States Over Sanctions Enforcement Gaps," August 19, 2025

• "Unpacking the U-Turn: What the Syria Sanctions Repeal Really Means," July 22, 2025

• "Syria-ous Changes for Middle East Business? The United States, UK, and Europe Relax Sanctions on Syria," May 30, 2025

• "Big State, Big Scrutiny: Texas Steps into the Foreign Investment Review Arena," May 28, 2025

• "A Roadmap for Export Controls? Project 2025 and the Future of U.S. Exports – Part III," April 25, 2025
• "A Roadmap for Export Controls? Project 2025 and the Future of U.S. Exports – Part II," April 24, 2025

• "A Roadmap for Export Controls? Project 2025 and the Future of U.S. Exports – Part I," April 23, 2025

• "Who is Stacking the Chips: U.S. Commerce Department Launches Section 232 Investigation into Semiconductor Imports," April 16, 2025

• "EU’s New Export Due Diligence Guidelines: Keeping Tabs on Cyber-Surveillance Technology," October 25, 2024

• "SoL Long to Short Limits: The Sequel — A Decade of Recordkeeping and Enforcement," July 26, 2024

• "BIS Summer Update: Essential Reading for Your Next Beach Trip!" July 15, 2024

• "OFAC Tightens Russia Sanctions; BIS Cracks Down on Diversion," June 12, 2024
• "Walking the Tightrope: EU’s Sanctions Enforcement Directive Puts Violators on Notice," May 21, 2024

• "No More Postcards to OFAC in 2024: Unpacking OFAC’s New Reporting Procedures," May 14, 2024

• "Say SoL Long to Short Limits: Doubling Down on the Sanctions Statute of Limitations," May 6, 2024

• "E(U)xterritoriality of EU Sanctions: The No Russia Clause," March 28, 2024

• "Protective Packaging: The EU’s Economic Security Package Changes the Landscape in Global Technology Controls," February 5, 2024

• "China Semiconductor Export Regulations, Episode III – What a Difference a Year Makes," October 20, 2023

• "The EU’s 11th Sanctions Package: The Long(er) Arm of the Law," June 23, 2023

• "Technology Protection is a Core National Security Priority: BIS Strengthens Its Policy on Disclosures," April 25, 2023

• "Breaking the Link – New Developments on U.S. Licenses for Exports to Huawei," March 1, 2023

• "Friday Development: New Sanctions and Export Controls to Address Russia’s Ongoing Aggression in Ukraine (Including the use of Iranian UAVs)," February 27, 2023

• "Tightening the Cordon – U.S. Restricts Licensing Policy and Adds Allies to Technology Controls," February 8, 2023

• "China Semiconductor Export Regulations, Episode I – Counting Your Chips Carefully," October 11, 2022

• "Further Export Controls on Semiconductor Technology for China coming this Week," October 5, 2022

• "Technology to Iran: OFAC Lifts Certain Iran Sanctions In Response to Protests in Iran," September 27, 2022

• "Is the U.S. solar industry ready to prove its panels aren’t made with Uyghur forced labor?," June 28, 2022
• "U.S. and Allies Impose Additional Severe Costs on Russia for Atrocities in Ukraine," April 6, 2022
• "U.S., UK and EU Sanctions Over the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) Regions of Ukraine," February 25, 2022
• "Russian Risk: Transactions with Russian Banks and Exports to Russia Create Greatest Exposure Under New EU and UK Ukraine-Related Sanctions," February 25, 2022
• "Russian Risk: Transactions with Russian Banks and Exports to Russia Create Greatest Exposure Under New U.S. Ukraine-Related Sanctions," February 25, 2022
• "U.S., UK and EU Sanctions Over Putin’s Recognition of Breakaway Ukraine Regions," February 22, 2022
• "EU Bans Whitening Food additive E171 as of January 1, 2022," December 21, 2021

• "Clean Energy’s Messy Problem: The Solar Industry, the U.S. Government, and the Complex Task of Combatting Forced Labor," July 23, 2021
• "Counterpunch: China Adopts Landmark Anti-Sanctions Statute to Stop U.S. Sanctions Effects Overseas," June 23, 2021
• "CFIUK Comes to Life: The National Security and Investment Act 2021," May 20, 2021

• "The EU – U.S. Sanctions Dilemma: The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice Weighs in," May 26, 2021

• "CFIUK Comes to Life: The National Security and Investment Act 2021," May 20, 2021
• "A New Era of Export Controls Begins in the EU: The Revised EU Dual-Use Export Controls to Promote Human Rights," May 14, 2021
• "U.S. Imposes Sanctions Measures Targeting Myanmar Military Government," March 11, 2021

• "CFIUK: The United Kingdom Introduces a New Mechanism for Foreign Direct Investment Screening," December 17, 2020

• "Lend Me Your EARs: CFIUS Makes Export Controls a Trigger for Mandatory Filings," October 14, 2020

• "CFIUK? The UK Brings Heavier Scrutiny to Its Foreign Investment Reviews," October 14, 2020

• "China Expands Technology Export Controls: Fighting back on TikTok and Putting Your R&D at Risk," September 2, 2020

• "UPDATE: National Security Meets Teenage Dance Battles: U.S. Increases Pressure on ByteDance Sale of TikTok," August 17, 2020

• "UPDATED: China Trade War Scorecard: Keeping Track of Tariffs," January 16, 2020
• "A Chinese Export License to Get a Smart Phone? Tech-Tonic Changes in World Export Controls," August 19, 2019
•  "China Trade War Scorecard: Keeping Track of Tariffs," August 19, 2019 
• "INTERNATIONAL TECH INVESTMENT ISSUE – Investments With Borders: CFIUS-Style Foreign Investment Review Goes Global," April 10, 2019 

• "Where’d You Get Your Tech? New Rules May Allow the U.S. Government to Unwind Your Latest IT Transaction," December 18, 2020

• "The Great Wall Against China: Washington’s Barriers to a Wave of Capital from the Far East," April 12, 2018 
• "CFIUS for Europe? New Screening of Foreign Direct Investments in Europe," December 12, 2017 
• "Lurches, Leaps, Feints, and Flops: Movements Without Motion in Russian Sanctions Policy," February 8, 2017 
• "Today, President Trump Decertified the Iran Deal and Announced Tougher Sanctions on Iran," October 13, 2017 
• "Growing Pains for Expanding Tech Companies: Uber Investigated for FCPA Violations," September 14, 2017
• "Section 301: The Trade Law You May Not Know Well that Could Shock Industries," August 17, 2017 
• "One Year From Now, You May Be Out of Iran: Trump Administration Policy and the Timeline for Snapback," August 1, 2017 
• "In the Chaos of (Trade) War, Where Does Your Company Find Peace?" August 1, 2017 

Books

Media Mentions

Events

Memberships

Young Lawyers Division, International Section, American Bar Association

Digital Media