Australia updates permit for legal services to sanctioned persons

Australia has issued a new permit allowing legal service providers to work with sanctioned individuals and entities, replacing an earlier authorisation, according to a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (‘DFAT’) notice, 30 October.

The new permit SAN-2024-00138 replaces SAN-2022-00079 and will remain valid for two years from the Date of Issue or until revoked, under the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011.

The authorisation covers seven classes of permit holders: ‘Australian persons, including bodies corporate, who are legal service providers, and their employees’; designated persons or entities (‘DPEs’); ‘persons acting for, or on behalf of, a DPE’; providers of postal, courier and litigation services; ‘The Commonwealth, and persons appointed or engaged under the Public Service Act 1999’; ‘The Reserve Bank of Australia and staff members’; and ‘financial institutions and their employees.’

Permitted activities include services ‘directly related to the provision of legal advice or legal representation in Australian courts and tribunals,’ including ‘the organisation and filing of court documents; the engagement of expert witnesses; and administrative tasks necessary for legal proceedings.’

The permit allows authorised holders to ‘directly or indirectly make assets available to, or for the benefit of’ designated persons or entities and to ‘use or deal with controlled assets’ when providing legal services.

Legal service providers and designated persons must notify the Australian Sanctions Office Contact Point if they intend to rely on this permit.

https://www.dfat.gov.au/news/news/new-legal-services-permit-issued

https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/san-2024-00138-legal-services-permit.pdf