Anti-money laundering laws and sanctions regimes have become essential tools for combating corruption and other illicit activities. A recent Gibson Dunn program offered an analysis of the evolving U.S. AML and sanctions landscapes, recent regulatory guidance and the aggressive enforcement environment. This article, the first of our two-part coverage, discusses sanctions risks, the AML regulatory framework and FinCEN guidance. The second article will cover OFAC advisories and notable AML developments in the U.S., as well as developments in the U.K. and E.U. See “How to Leverage AML Tools for ABC Programs” (May 1, 2019).