Stephan is part of Reed Smith’s Global Regulatory Enforcement group, where he focuses his practice on antitrust as well as international trade and sanctions. In his international trade practice, Stephan maintains a focus on economic sanctions, export controls, and anti-money laundering, and he interacts regularly with regulators from the U.S., the EU, and the UK.
Prior to obtaining his Juris Doctor from Penn State Law, Stephan received his law degree from Brussels, Belgium, where he focused on EU Competition Law. Originally from Norway, Stephan has lived in France, Belgium and the United States. Due to his wide international experience and fluency in different languages, Stephan works well with clients from all over the world.
Credentials
Education
- Pennsylvania State University, J.D., summa cum laude, Woolsack Honor Society, Order of the Coif
- Vesalius College at Vrije Universiteit, B.A., International and European Law, Valedictorian, summa cum laude
Professional admissions & qualifications
- Pennsylvania
Languages spoken
Norwegian, French, Swedish
Insights
- Getting the deal done: antitrust tips to push a transaction through effectively(31 March 2026)
- Federal court vacates HSR overhaul(13 February 2026)
- FTC announces adjusted HSR jurisdictional and filing fee thresholds for 2026(16 January 2026)
Blogs
- UK imposes new Russia sanctions – mirroring of EU position on the maritime transport of LNG and refined petroleum products derived from Russian crude(20 May 2026)
- UK issues General Trade Licence for import of diesel and jet fuel derived from Russian crude oil(20 May 2026)
- EU’s 20th Sanctions Package on Russia(24 April 2026)
- Temporary U.S. sanctions relief for Russian seaborne oil products(13 March 2026)
- Carrot over the Stick? Reforms to OFSI Civil Enforcement Processes incentivise early engagement and settlement(23 February 2026)
- EU LNG and Pipeline Gas Import Ban – Timing under EU Sanctions (Article 3ra) vs RePowerEU(10 February 2026)
- How sanctions transformed the shipping industry in 2025(9 December 2025)
- New requirements for importing CN code 2710 cargo into the EU from 21 January 2026(21 October 2025)
- UK Sanctions – Rosneft, Lukoil and others(15 October 2025)
- Refusing voyage orders: Sanctions risk assessments must be based on evidence, not speculation(13 August 2025)
- EU-nough Russian Oil – EU’s 18th Sanctions Package(21 July 2025)
- OFAC announces implementation of executive order providing for the revocation of Syria sanctions(1 July 2025)
- U.S. section 301 strikes back: Additional U.S. port service fees on vessels with China nexus; potential far-reaching implications for leaseback arrangements(24 April 2025)
- U.S. and UK Intensify Sanctions Against Russia’s Oil Sector in one of the Largest Rounds of Designations Since the Outbreak of the War(13 January 2025)
- Gone with the Assad(8 January 2025)
- UK government launches new agency to strengthen trade sanctions enforcement(25 September 2024)
- The expiry of the EU State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework(5 July 2024)
- EU 14th Sanctions Package against Russia(25 June 2024)
- Navigating the key elements of sanctions clauses(22 April 2024)
- OFAC issues wind-down license for Venezuelan oil(18 April 2024)
Events
- What to expect from sanctions and export controls in 2025: Navigating shifting relationships, priorities and political leaders(Tuesday, January 14, 2025)