Blank Rome is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized in China Business Law Journal’s 2025 Deals of the Year in the International Trade Investigations category.
The firm was honored for its work advising on U.S. sanctions de‑listing matters. In July 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury formally and unconditionally removed the vessel MV Xuan Ning, owned by Jinghan Shipping, from the Specially Designated Nationals (“SDN”) list. The Blank Rome team was led by partners Matthew J. Thomas and Victoria Ortega. China Business Law Journal also recognized Shanghai co-counsel Wintell & Co., highlighting the two firms’ effective cross-border cooperation.
Through continuous reporting on China’s legal market and comprehensive independent analysis, China Business Law Journal selected 275 standout deals and cases from thousands of submissions over the past year. Evaluation criteria included deal size, industry impact, structural innovation, judicial precedent, and social contribution.
To qualify, matters must have been completed or reached significant milestones between November 1, 2024, and October 31, 2025. Winning deals are presented across 12 categories and listed alphabetically within each section.
To view the full list of deals, please click here.
Below is the full deal summary as published in China Business Law Journal.
Jinghan Shipping Vessel Removed from US SDN List
Categories: Sanctions de-listing; maritime
Legal Counsel: Blank Rome advised on U.S. sanctions de-listing matters. Wintell & Co advised on PRC Counter-Sanctions Law matters for Jinghan Shipping.
Key Points: The U.S. Department of the Treasury formally and unconditionally removed the vessel MV Xuan Ning, owned by Jinghan Shipping, from the specially designated nationals (SDN) list in July 2025. The case set a benchmark for Chinese enterprises responding to unilateral Western economic sanctions, representing the first instance where a Chinese entity achieved a complete and unconditional de-listing amid a new round of U.S. sanctions related to Iran. The entire de-listing application process lasted nearly three years, commencing in March 2023, when the vessel was listed.
In March 2023, the MV Xuan Ning was suddenly added to the SDN list as part of U.S. sanctions actions targeting Iran, subjecting the company to an extensive impact including international business disruption and credit damage.
The case leveraged efficient cross-border legal collaboration. The Chinese legal team guided the drafting of core evidence and witness statements within three months, which were adopted and applied by the U.S. counsel. The effort received strong support from Chinese ministries. The core difficulty lay in navigating the highly politicised, protracted and uncertain U.S. sanctions removal process, while safeguarding the company’s legitimate rights and commercial confidence amid external variables such as a change in the U.S. administration.