EY Global Vice Chair Sees Tax Role as Key to Sanction Navigation

Global sanctions in response to the invasion of Ukraine sent multinationals scrambling to end their operations in Russia. Now they are navigating a “labyrinth” of ensuing human and financial issues, EY Global Vice Chair Kate Barton said.

The Big Four firm isn’t only helping clients withdraw from that market. It’s dealing with the same issues itself—including relocating employees and determining the tax and financial impacts of shutting down an entity.

“We’ve been working like crazy” to end the company’s involvement in Russia, Barton said. “Every client that says they’re pulling out, believe me, it’s not done overnight, as much as ...