LLC Synesis v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

Subject Matter

SANCTIONS — Designation — Statutory threshold — Secretary of State refusing to revoke company’s designation under sanctions regulations — Company applying to court for refusal to be set aside — Whether “reasonable grounds to suspect” company an involved person under regulations — Proper approach of court on application to set refusal aside — Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (c 13), ss 11(2), 23, 38 — Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/600), regs 5, 6(1)(a)

[2023] EWHC 541 (Admin); [2024] KB 81; [2023] 3 WLR 927; [2023] 2 All ER (Comm) 976; [2023] WLR(D) 137, KBD

Legislation Considered

Statutes

Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (c 13), ss 11(2), 23, 38

Statutory Instruments

Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/600), regs 5, 6(1)(a)

Words & Phrases

"Reasonable grounds to suspect" — Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, ss 11(2)

"Reasonable grounds to suspect" — Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/600), reg 6

Cases Considered

Cases considered in: LLC Synesis v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs [2023] EWHC 541 (Admin); [2024] KB 81; [2023] 3 WLR 927; [2023] 2 All ER (Comm) 976; [2023] WLR(D) 137, KBD

Cases Cited

Cases cited in: LLC Synesis v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs [2023] EWHC 541 (Admin); [2024] KB 81; [2023] 3 WLR 927; [2023] 2 All ER (Comm) 976; [2023] WLR(D) 137, KBD

A v HM Treasury (JUSTICE intervening) (Nos 1 and 2) [2010] UKSC 2; [2010] 2 AC 534; [2010] 2 WLR 378; [2010] 4 All ER 745; [2010] WLR (D) 12; Case details, SC(E)

A v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2004] UKHL 56; [2005] 2 AC 68; [2005] 2 WLR 87; [2005] 3 All ER 169; [2003] INLR 249, HL(E)

Al-Ghabra v European Commission (Case T-248/13) EU:T:2016:721, EGC

Atos IT Services UK Ltd v Atos Pension Schemes Ltd [2020] EWHC 145 (Ch), Ch D

Barras v Aberdeen Steam Trawling and Fishing Co Ltd [1933] AC 402, HL(Sc)

Begum v Secretary of State for the Home Department (SC/163/2019) (unreported) 22 February 2023, SIAC

Council of Civil Service Unions v Minister for the Civil Service [1985] AC 374; [1984] 3 WLR 1174; [1985] ICR 14; [1984] 3 All ER 935, HL(E)

Farrell v Alexander [1977] AC 59; [1976] 3 WLR 145; [1976] 2 All ER 721, HL(E)

Fox, Campbell and Hartley v United Kingdom (Application Nos 12244/86, 12245/86 and 12383/86) (1990) 13 EHRR 157, ECtHR

Liversidge v Anderson [1941] UKHL 1; [1942] AC 206; [1941] 3 All ER 338, HL

PJSC National Bank Trust v Mints [2023] EWHC 118 (Comm); [2023] WLR(D) 69, KBD

QX v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWHC 836 (Admin), QBD

QX v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWCA Civ 1541; [2023] KB 472; [2023] 2 WLR 1103; [2022] WLR(D) 465, CA

R (Begum) v Special Immigration Appeals Commission [2021] UKSC 7; [2021] AC 765; [2021] 2 WLR 556; [2021] 2 All ER 1063; [2021] WLR(D) 131, SC(E)

R (CXF) v Central Bedfordshire Council [2018] EWCA Civ 2852; [2019] 1 WLR 1862; [2019] 3 All ER 20; (2019) 166 BMLR 191; [2019] Med LR 88; [2018] WLR (D) 790; The Times, 23 January 2019, CA

R (D) v Parole Board [2018] EWHC 694 (Admin); [2019] QB 285; [2018] 3 WLR 829; [2018] 3 All ER 417; [2018] WLR (D) 195, DC

R (Dolan) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2020] EWCA Civ 1605; [2021] 1 WLR 2326; [2021] 1 All ER 780; [2020] WLR (D) 654, CA

R (Good Law Project) v Electoral Commission [2018] EWHC 2414 (Admin); [2019] 1 All ER 365, DC

R (Goodman) v London Borough of Lewisham [2003] EWCA Civ 140; [2003] 2 PLR 42; [2003] 2 P & CR 18; [2003] Env LR 28; [2003] JPL 1309; The Times, 21 February 2003, CA

R (Hertfordshire County Council) v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (No 1) [2021] EWHC 1093 (Admin); [2021] 1 WLR 3714; [2022] 1 All ER 1058; [2021] WLR(D) 244, DC

R (Khatun) v Newham London Borough Council [2004] EWCA Civ 55; [2005] QB 37; [2004] 3 WLR 417; [2004] LGR 696, CA

R (Lord Carlile of Berriew) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] UKSC 60; [2015] AC 945; [2014] 3 WLR 1404; [2015] 2 All ER 453; [2014] WLR (D) 479; Case details, SC(E)

R (Privacy International) v Investigatory Powers Tribunal [2017] EWHC 114 (Admin); [2017] 3 All ER 1127, DC

R (Soltany) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] EWHC 2291 (Admin), QBD

R (Youssef) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs [2016] UKSC 3; [2016] AC 1457; [2016] 2 WLR 509; [2016] 3 All ER 261; [2016] WLR (D) 35; Case details, SC(E)

R (Youssef) v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs [2021] EWHC 3188 (Admin); [2022] 1 WLR 2454; [2021] WLR(D) 603, QBD

Rawi (R on the application of) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs & Anor [2006] EWCA Civ 1279, CA

Secretary of State for the Home Department v AF (No 3) [2009] UKHL 28; [2010] 2 AC 269; [2009] 3 WLR 74; [2009] 3 All ER 643; 26 BHRC 738; The Times, 11 June 2009; [2009] WLR (D) 180, HL(E)

Secretary of State for the Home Department v MB [2006] EWCA Civ 1140; [2007] QB 415; [2006] 3 WLR 839, CA

Secretary of State for the Home Department v Rehman [2001] UKHL 47; [2003] 1 AC 153; [2001] 3 WLR 877; [2002] 1 All ER 122, HL(E)

Suzanne Saleh Thabet and Others v Council of the European Union (Joined Cases C-72/19 P and C-145/19 P); EU:C:2020:992, ECJ

Cases citing

Cases citing: LLC Synesis v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs [2023] EWHC 541 (Admin); [2024] KB 81; [2023] 3 WLR 927; [2023] 2 All ER (Comm) 976; [2023] WLR(D) 137, KBD

Dalston Projects Ltd v Secretary of State for Transport [2023] EWHC 1106 (Admin); [2023] 1 WLR 3995; [2023] WLR(D) 215, KBD

Khan v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs [2024] EWHC 361 (Admin), KBD

Phillips v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs [2024] EWHC 32 (Admin); [2024] 1 WLR 2227; [2024] WLR(D) 13, KBD

R (Fridman) v HM Treasury [2023] EWHC 2657 (Admin), KBD

Vneshprombank LLC v Georgy Ivanovich Bedzhamov [2024] EWHC 1048 (Ch), Ch D

Commentary

Blackstone Chambers
LLC Synesis v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Case comment