A Norton Rose spokesperson told Law360 Pulse in an email statement that the firm put out the internal notice to ensure that clients get their legal advice "through the appropriate channels," directly from its sanctions team.
"It is standard practice for us to issue internal notices on any developing legal and regulatory issues, where clients may be directly or indirectly affected," the spokesperson said.
The U.S. sanctions against Russia, which prohibit domestic businesses from conducting financial transactions with Russian banks and companies, has prompted some law firms including Baker McKenzie, Sidley Austin LLP and Venable LLP to drop Russian clients to comply with the sanctions.
Norton Rose, which has Russian clients, has not made a similar announcement. The Norton Rose spokesperson said that the firm cannot comment on individual clients.
"We have appropriate risk management policies in place across our global business and keep all relationships the firm has under review," the spokesperson said.
In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, law firms have taken a number of different actions to adapt to the rapidly evolving situation.
Last week, several international firms, including Dentons, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP and Baker McKenzie, closed offices in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, which has been a target of Russian airstrikes.
Other firms, including Ropes & Gray LLP and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, are looking for ways that they can offer pro bono legal services to Ukrainian refugees.
--Editing by Gemma Horowitz.
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