Sebastiaan’s practice focuses on strategic export controls, complex economic sanctions and other compliance matters. Sebastiaan enjoys a stellar reputation as a leading lawyer in the international trade law community being one of the first practitioners of his generation in the EU to specialise in this area of the law. Sebastiaan represents clients in the Netherlands and internationally, having vast experience in providing pioneering technical and strategic advice in cutting-edge national and cross-border trade law related matters to clients operating in a wide range of industries and jurisdictions.

Sebastiaan advises clients on the full spectrum of export controls and economic sanctions issues and also assists clients on other compliance-related matters. Sebastiaan conducts internal investigations, prepares voluntary disclosures and frequently represents clients in regulatory enforcement actions with national and foreign competent authorities.

Clients highly regard Sebastiaan’s direct, clear and practical advice, as well as his sharp legal analyses, his result-driven approach and in-depth knowledge of their business. He has unrivalled experience in the advanced technologies sector.

"Sebastiaan has exceptional knowledge of export controls and sanctions and has a great ability to break down the most complex legal challenges into a readily comprehensible advice."

Sebastiaan lectures on economic sanctions and export controls and is a regular speaker at (inter)national conferences and seminars about these and other compliance-related topics. In addition, Sebastiaan frequently publishes articles in legal magazines and is regularly quoted in various (inter)national media outlets. Sebastiaan serves as the Vice Chair of the Export Controls & Economic Sanctions Committee of the American Bar Association.

Sebastiaan regularly participates in discussions on sanctions and export control policy. In 2022, he was invited by the Dutch House of Representatives to brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the implementation and enforcement of the EU’s Russia sanctions regime in the Netherlands, one of several engagements reflecting his active role in high-level policy dialogue on sanctions. He is also frequently invited by various (inter)national organisations to speak on developments in export controls concerning the sensitive technology sector, particularly in the context of evolving international geopolitical dynamics.

Sebastiaan is mentioned in the Lexology Index as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Trade & Customs – International Sanctions and has been recognised with the Lexology Client Choice Award in Trade & Customs – International Sanctions annually since 2022. Prior to founding Bennink Dunin-Wasowicz in 2024, Sebastiaan established and led, for 10 years, a leading independent firm specialising in international trade law based in Amsterdam.