Join your hosts Milana Karayanidi and Shahrzad Noorbaloochi, and a lineup of exceptionally talented guests as they unravel the stories behind today's economic sanctions developments, going beyond the confines of law, business, and politics. Each episode will offer a fresh perspective on the diverse landscapes of countries affected by US economic sanctions and delve into the stories of the remarkable people whose lives are woven into this complex tapestry.
In this series finale of Sanctions+, hosts Shahrzad Noorbaloochi and Milana Karayanidi close out Season 2 with a heartfelt review of 2025, both professionally and personally. They reflect on the personal milestones that defined their year: from welcoming new family members and nurturing relationships to confronting a scarcity mindset and finding their voices through podcasting. This is the final episode hosted by Milana and Shahrzad for now. Stay compliant, stay curious, and stay out of trouble!
26 Nov 2025
Dina Hofmann (ECS Advisors, ISECS Ambassador to Kazakhstan)
In this episode of Sanctions+, hosts Milana Karayanidi and Shahrzad Noorbaloochi discuss with Dina Hoffman the new “Affiliates Rule” by BIS and what it means for export controls compliance. Drawing on her experience with BIS in Germany and her current work in Kazakhstan with ECS Advisors, Dina explains aggregation across the Entity List and MEU owners, the rule of most restrictiveness, and the practical implications of new Red Flag 29 and BIS’s closer alignment with OFAC’s 50% rule. The discussion touches upon tracing the ownership to the ultimate beneficial owner, recalibrating screening beyond the Consolidated Screening List, document diligence, and preparing for increased licensing and voluntary disclosure decisions. This episode also explores the culture of Kazakhstan – from its nomadic heritage to modern life in Astana and Almaty.
30 Oct 2025
Lara Strangeways (Co-founder, Beyond Compliance)
In this episode of Sanctions+, hosts Shahrzad Noorbaloochi and Milana Karayanidi sit down with Lara Strangeways to unpack the fast-evolving intersection of business, human rights, and trade compliance. Drawing on her experience leading Business and Human Rights work, Lara explains what it means to move “beyond compliance,” detailing how frameworks like the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the forthcoming EU Forced Labor Regulation compare with the US regulatory landscape. Get tactical on integrating human rights into corporate operations: where procurement teams fit, how to structure effective due diligence and supplier onboarding, and what meaningful, fit-for-purpose remediation looks like when harms are identified.
18 Sept 2025
Episode 12 | Trump’s Tariffs: What Comes Next?
This episode of the Sanctions+ podcast delves into the latest developments in US tariff policy, focusing on the recent federal court ruling against tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the upcoming Supreme Court’s expedited review of the case. Our hosts Milana Karayanidi and Shahrzad Noorbaloochi break down the legal and policy implications for businesses navigating international trade, discussing the unusual use of IEEPA for tariffs, and the evolving landscape of executive orders and trade agreements. Listeners gain insights into the broader context of US trade strategy, and what can be expected in the months to come.
29 Jul 2025
Back at It — Sanctions Trends & Return from Leave
In this episode of Sanctions+, Shahrzad Noorbaloochi is back behind the mic after maternity leave and diving straight into the fast-moving world of US economic sanctions with co-host Milana Karayanidi. They catch up on key developments and trends from the first six months of President Trump’s second term. From slowed Russia designations to increasing focus on China and Iran, they break down what is shaping the sanctions landscape in the first half of 2025. Plus, a few personal reflections on reentering the world of law post-parental leave.
30 Apr 2025
Episode 10 | TikTok Saga
In this episode of Sanctions+, Milana Karayanidi and Shahrzad Noorbaloochi dive into the TikTok saga and the review process by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). As a result of the CFIUS process, a commercial transaction can be blocked due to US national security considerations, which is exactly what happened here. Following CFIUS’ review, acquisition by ByteDance Ltd. of Musical.ly – later merged with TikTok – became subject to the US Presidential divestment order. The order was challenged in courts. The Congress passed the law that banned distributing, maintaining, and updating certain apps within the territory of the US – including TikTok. The US Supreme Court upheld the ban. And the new Administration ordered not to enforce the ban for now. Join us as we unravel the details of this saga and comment on our take on social media in general.
23 Jan 2025
Episode 9 | Reflections on One Year of Sanctions+
In the latest episode of Sanctions+, Milana and Shahrzad take a reflective journey through the past year, revisiting the insightful conversations, major developments, and memorable moments that shaped the podcast. From thought-provoking discussions with distinguished guests to celebrating key achievements, this episode highlights the lessons learned and the themes that resonated throughout the year.
Milana and Shahrzad also share stories from their travels and adventures, giving listeners a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the experiences that enriched their perspectives and informed their conversations. Tune in for an engaging recap that celebrates the milestones of the past year and sets the stage for an exciting new season of Sanctions+ ahead.
16 Dec 2024
Episode 7 | Thomas Andrukonis and Stephen Wilcox (CEOs and Co-Founders, ISECS and ECS Advisors) - Part I
Milana Karayanidi and Shahrzad Noorbaloochi interview CEOs Thomas Andrukonis and Stephen Wilcox, who share insights on navigating export controls and sanctions regimes worldwide.
16 Dec 2024
Episode 8 | Stephen Wilcox and Thomas Andrukonis (CEOs and Co-Founders, ISECS and ECS Advisors) - Part II
Sanctions experts Thomas Andrukonis and Stephen Wilcox share their expertise on export controls and sanctions, highlighting key learnings from their fascinating field.
Annie Wartanian Reisinger, Senior Counsel at the US Department of the Treasury, shares expert insights on CFIUS' expanded jurisdiction and the impact of the Chevron doctrine's overturn on national security reviews.
5 Sept 2024
Episode 5 | Tim Meyer (Duke University School of Law)
In this episode, we are joined by a guest co-host, Leah Kehoe, another member of the International Trade team at Dentons! Leah and Milana interview Tim Meyer, a constitutional law professor at Duke University School of Law, on the effects of the US Supreme Court recently overturning the landmark Chevron decision. Professor Meyer explains the concepts of foreign affairs exceptionalism, the Major Questions Doctrine, IEEPA emergency powers, and the expected uncertainties and certainties in the sanctions space that will follow. Stay tuned until the end for Dentons’ International Trade associates’ summer update.
Indulge your curiosity about the life of Semira, Nikou, the CEO of “Better Sour” gummy candy in globally-inspired flavors from the Middle East to the Asia Pacific. Join Shahrzad Noorbaloochi and Milana Karayanidi as they explore Semira’s journey from sanctions associate to an entrepreneur and share views on facing adversity, overcoming personal challenges, raising capital for a start-up, and taking risks. Enjoy the delightful fruits of this conversation, including coverage of the recent developments in the trade sanctions world!
We are thrilled to bring you the third episode of the Sanctions+ podcast! Join Shahrzad Noorbaloochi and Milana Karayanidi as they delve into the world of international trade with a very special guest, Gustavo Niskier, Director of International Affairs at Vale S.A., one of the world’s largest mining companies. In this episode, Gustavo brings his wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, offering unique insights into how a global giant like Vale navigates the complex regulatory landscape. Stay tuned for the end of the episode when our hosts get deep, discussing their philosophy on change and destiny.
27 Mar 2024
Episode 2 | Sanctions Updates and More
In this episode, Milana Karayanidi and Shahrzad Noorbaloochi discuss key developments in the trade sanctions world, including the February 23, 2024 Russia designation action by OFAC, Venezuela sanctions relief, new actions targeting transfer of personal data to certain countries, and the expansion of export controls involving SDNs. Stay tuned for the end of the episode where we discuss fun spring events and activities in DC and hear about Milana's "situationship" with the road.
26 Feb 2024
Episode 1 | Sanctions Year-In-Review 2023
In this episode of the Sanctions+ podcast, Shahrzad Noorbaloochi and Milana Karayanidi delve into Dentons's Sanctions Year-in-Review report for 2023. Join us as we unpack insights from Dentons’s International Trade team on key developments, trends, and challenges that shaped the sanctions landscape over the past year. From geopolitical tensions to cross-border collaboration, we explore how these factors influenced U.S. sanctions policy in 2023. Drawing on the team’s expertise, we also examine highlights of the year, emerging patterns in enforcement, and our regulatory forecast for 2024. Don't miss out on the fun towards the end of the episode, as we take a break from discussing economic sanctions and share about our adventures at the Korean spa.
8 Feb 2024
Preview | The Sanctions+ podcast
Dive into the genesis of Sanctions+! In this episode, your hosts Milana Karayanidi and Shahrzad Noorbaloochi, both managing associates in the Dentons International Trade practice, peel back the curtain on how the Sanctions+ Podcast began. And as a special bonus, you will hear a sneak peek of the first episode.
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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 22 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
30
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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