Sven Bates > Baker McKenzie > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Baker McKenzie
280 Bishopsgate
London
EC2M 4RB
England
Sven Bates photo

Work Department

International Commercial & Trade

Position

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.

Languages

English

Memberships

  • Law Society, England and Wales – Member

Education

  • College of Law (LL.B.) (2007)
  • Oxford University (M.A.) (2005)

Lawyer Rankings

London > Corporate and commercial > EU and competition: trade, WTO anti-dumping and customs

(Leading associates)

Sven BatesBaker McKenzie

The international trade group at Baker McKenzie LLP draws on its global reach to provide clients with expertise on a range of trade matters involving UK, EU and US sanctions.  Its ambit also covers export controls, foreign investment, customs, anti-dumping and trade remedies. Co-practice head Sunny Mann is noted for his considerable experience in UK and EU export controls sanctions and anti-bribery rules. He jointly heads the practice alongside Tristan Grimmer whose expertise lies in trade sanctions and export controls, as well as compliance matters. Other key figures include Jennifer Revis, who serves as the leading customs contact in the practice. Ben Smith is regularly called upon for his expertise by clients in the energy, technology, telecoms, healthcare and transport sectors. Sven Bates – noted for his sanctions and trade compliance expertise – is also recommended.