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Business and human rights lawyers
With the increasing focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) and responsible business practices, business and human rights (BHR) is a key consideration for successful individuals, families, businesses and charities.
What you need to know
There has never been a more important time to ensure that you, and your business, are preventing and addressing the risk of adverse impacts on human rights.Following the 2011 publication of the UN's Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, several countries have introduced mandatory legal (reporting) requirements or regulatory standards businesses have to meet, for example the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 or the French Corporate Duty of Vigilance Law , with further legislation on the horizon.
Simultaneously, national courts have seen a considerable increase in the number of high-profile human rights-related cases brought against companies, often in respect of international human rights law violations connected with their overseas subsidiaries and supply chains. The financial and reputational costs to a company, and its management, embroiled in such litigation is often significant.
Achieving sustainable success
Whether you are a multinational corporation, international investor, family office or charity, our experienced team of business and human rights solicitors can help you to navigate this increasingly complex area of law and provide integrated advice to address ESG and BHR risks and issues.Planning ahead is vital when managing your BHR strategy. We can help you develop your corporate policy and governance landscape, assist with regulatory compliance and due diligence globally and also conduct BHR Impact Assessments, supply chain risk management and develop BHR grievance mechanisms, to ensure you are compliant with international human rights law. We also have experience advising States and Governments on their international obligations, as well as creating and implementing national action plans and developing human rights legislation.
We provide strategic advice on managing BHR and ESG litigation and liability risks. If you find yourself involved in a dispute, we offer tailored solutions to reach resolution and represent your company in litigation and arbitrations should the dispute become contentious. This can have a significant impact on your business' reputation but our business and human rights lawyers will help you mitigate reputational risk and manage the outcome.
Finally, if you are an investor, fund or financial institution looking for advice on impact or sustainable investments, our global business and human rights solicitors can help you assess available options and find the right solution to suit your personal and professional goals.
Whatever your objectives, we will work with you at any stage of operations to implement your human rights responsibilities and help achieve sustainable success.
Advising a Government
Advising a Government on issues of State sovereignty and international human rights law.
Anglo-Canadian mining company
Advising an Anglo-Canadian mining company regarding operations in an African state addressing and preventing human rights issues in connection with a gold mine, including providing a suite of BHR policies, providing BHR executive and employee training and establishing an operational level grievance mechanism.
British Overseas Territory
Advising the Government of a British Overseas Territory on litigation involving constitutional and human rights issues.
Colombia v Ecuador
Advising the Republic of Colombia in a dispute with Ecuador before the International Court of Justice regarding aerial herbicide spraying and international environmental law.
European Court of Human Rights
Advising individuals on the legal strategy to commence judicial review and human rights proceedings in relation to the violation of the right to private life both in the United Kingdom and the European Court of Human Rights.
Grant-making foundation
Advising an English-registered grant-making charitable foundation in relation to its investment powers in relation to ethical investments and the charity law issues as part of an ESG investment mandate.
International mining company
Representing an international mining company in English litigation concerning alleged human rights violations in connection with a mine in an African State.
International NGO
Representing an international NGO in connection with litigation and legislative strategies to seek accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in mining and sale of 'blood diamonds' from Sierra Leone.
International organisation
Advising an international organisation on litigation before the Constitutional Court of Uganda in relation to international human rights obligations.
Italian food company
Advising an Italian multinational food company on modern slavery and human rights regulatory compliance.
Anglo-Canadian mining company
Advising an Anglo-Canadian mining company regarding operations in an African state addressing and preventing human rights issues in connection with a gold mine, including providing a suite of BHR policies, providing BHR executive and employee training and establishing an operational level grievance mechanism.
International NGO
Representing an international NGO in connection with litigation and legislative strategies to seek accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in mining and sale of 'blood diamonds' from Sierra Leone.
International organisation
Advising an international organisation on litigation before the Constitutional Court of Uganda in relation to international human rights obligations.
Judicial review proceedings in Malawi
Advising an international organisation in judicial review proceedings in Malawi relating to international human rights obligations.
Advising a Government
Advising a Government on issues of State sovereignty and international human rights law.
Anglo-Canadian mining company
Advising an Anglo-Canadian mining company regarding operations in an African state addressing and preventing human rights issues in connection with a gold mine, including providing a suite of BHR policies, providing BHR executive and employee training and establishing an operational level grievance mechanism.
European Court of Human Rights
Advising individuals on the legal strategy to commence judicial review and human rights proceedings in relation to the violation of the right to private life both in the United Kingdom and the European Court of Human Rights.
Grant-making foundation
Advising an English-registered grant-making charitable foundation in relation to its investment powers in relation to ethical investments and the charity law issues as part of an ESG investment mandate.
International mining company
Representing an international mining company in English litigation concerning alleged human rights violations in connection with a mine in an African State.
Italian food company
Advising an Italian multinational food company on modern slavery and human rights regulatory compliance.
Multinational asset manager
Advising a multinational asset management company on ESG and BHR compliance with UK and EU regulatory standards
Middle East State Counsel
Claim regarding international human rights treaties.
Anglo-Canadian mining company
Advising an Anglo-Canadian mining company regarding operations in an African state addressing and preventing human rights issues in connection with a gold mine, including providing a suite of BHR policies, providing BHR executive and employee training and establishing an operational level grievance mechanism.
Colombia v Ecuador
Advising the Republic of Colombia in a dispute with Ecuador before the International Court of Justice regarding aerial herbicide spraying and international environmental law.
Nestlé v. Doe
Representing an amici curiae brief in support of Respondents in Nestlé v. Doe, a case in which the United States Supreme Court examined aiding-and-abetting liability of US companies and parent companies in relation to extraterritorial breaches of human rights relating to the use of child labour and human trafficking.
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Our team
Robert Kovacs
Partner | London
Hussein Haeri KC
Partner | London
Joseph E. Gallo
Partner | New York
Floriane Lavaud
Partner | New York
Ruzin Dagli
Consultant | London
Aniruddha Rajput
Consultant, Public International Law and International Arbitration | London
Aniruddha Rajput
Consultant, Public International Law and International Arbitration | London
Litigation & Arbitration
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Jovana Crncevic
Special Counsel | New York
Camilla Gambarini
Special counsel | London
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