Lily Squires

References to geopolitics, sanctions, export controls and armed conflict have risen sharply in the annual reports of leading US companies, providing a clear indication of how boardrooms respond to rising global risks.

A slew of new export control regimes is pulling distributors, freight forwarders and intermediaries into scope, not just chip manufacturers. Lexology PRO examines what these new rules mean in practical terms for businesses.

Sanctions, conflict and export controls now dominate boardroom risk registers. Some businesses are responding with a new C-suite hire: the Chief Geopolitical Officer.

A June executive order and recent data from US Customs and Border Protection indicate that enforcement activity against trade non-compliance is set to increase further. Here’s what companies should expect.

An Italian regulator has fined five companies €2.5 million over Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics ambush marketing, a reminder that regulators are watching and enforcing brand activity near major events.

Johnson & Johnson’s proposed settlement shows how product liability can outlive a product, cross borders and reshare a company’s litigation, governance and reputational risk for years.

The US imposes forced-labour tariffs on 60 countries, the UK–India trade agreement enters into force, and China adds EU entities to its export control list – plus other major trade and customs changes from July.

More than half of employees have quit over a bad manager. Legal, HR and compliance teams need a way to spot when an abrasive management style tips into a legal risk.

Businesses can face significant penalties when employees delete relevant evidence. Legal teams must recognise when preservation duties arise and ensure that modern communication channels are captured before data disappears.

Trump’s social media posts can move markets without becoming policy. Experts explain how companies can assess legal authority, executive orders, agency directions and business exposure to decide when to monitor, prepare or act.