Baker McKenzie

Sven Bates is Of Counsel for International Trade at Baker McKenzie. He has spent the majority of his career at the Firm's London office, focusing on international trade compliance, trade remedies and anti-bribery. He has also practiced in Amsterdam and has previously worked for the European Commission and the Shadow Attorney General. Sven has extensive experience in particular in the financial services sector, and has undertaken secondments at a Tier 1 UK bank and the Lloyd's insurance market.

Sven's practice focusses on a comprehensive spectrum of trade compliance areas, including export controls, sanctions, trade remedies, foreign investment rules and anti-bribery. Sven has significant multi-jurisdictional experience in advising in these fields in the context compliance and investigations and broader government engagement. Sven has supported a number of clients in connection with investigations by the UK (and other) authorities and has counselled companies on negotiations with the highest levels of government on approaches to sensitive licensing matters, amending new legislation and international trade remedies.

Sven has also advised extensively on the application of trade compliance and foreign investment rules to global mergers and acquisitions, supporting clients on a full range of pre-acquisition due diligence processes and post-acquisition integration strategies.

Sven's expertise and profile is reflected in the Legal 500, where he is ranked as one of the top 10 lawyers in the City for international trade compliance. Sven is also periodically quoted in the press and is a regular speaker at external events hosted by the Financial Conduct Authority, the British Bankers Association and the London Institute for Banking and Finance, reflecting his recognised experience in the financial services sector in particular.