Follow us

The expectation that commercial organisations should assess and avoid the risk of their business adversely impacting human rights is now firmly established in international standards, corporate policies and, increasingly, in domestic laws and regulations. 

Our global cross-practice team works with clients to identify and avoid risks to human rights, and to manage the associated risks to their own business.  

Members of our practice have been involved in the development and implementation of core international standards in this area over the last decade – most importantly the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.  

We also offer market-leading expertise in public international law, crisis management and dispute resolution, working with clients across all major sectors and geographies to solve their most complex human rights challenges.

We can help you to:

  • Recognise, and position yourself to take advantage of, the many opportunities presented by the evolving business and human rights landscape
  • Develop corporate human rights policies and governance frameworks
  • Conduct human rights due diligence, impact assessment and stakeholder engagement including structuring, strategy and issue prioritisation
  • Manage risks in the context of business relationships and transactions, including through contractual requirements and codes of conduct
  • Comply with national and international reporting requirements and standards
  • Design effective processes to identify and mitigate modern slavery risk, and to comply with reporting obligations
  • Establish and implement human rights grievance mechanisms
  • Investigate and resolve disputes

Experience

Modern slavery

Assisting a major retailer to investigate and respond to allegations of forced labour in its international supply chain.

Use of products

Advising a global technology company on the human rights impacts of the use of their products and the implications for the business of allegations relating to the same.

Investing in complex jurisdictions

Advising a global energy company on the human rights and international law implications of a potential investment in a disputed territory.

OECD NCP complaint

Advising a global consumer goods company on a complaint submitted to the UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines relating to alleged human rights abuses by one of its overseas subsidiaries and in its supply chain.

Parent company liability

Defending a UK listed mining company against a major class action in the English courts relating to personal injury and other harms alleged to have been caused by the operations of a subsidiary.

Plantation investigation

Investigating and advising on allegations of labour law violations and other human rights abuses in the palm oil sector in a Southeast Asian country.

Key contacts

Antony Crockett photo

Antony Crockett

Partner, Hong Kong

Antony Crockett
Amal Bouchenaki photo

Amal Bouchenaki

Partner, New York

Amal Bouchenaki
Christian Leathley photo

Christian Leathley

Partner, Co-Head of the Latin America Group, Co-Head of the Public International Law Group, US Head of International Arbitration, London

Christian Leathley
Sylvia Schenk photo

Sylvia Schenk

Consultant, Germany

Sylvia Schenk
Fatim Jumabhoy photo

Fatim Jumabhoy

Managing Partner, Singapore, Singapore

Fatim Jumabhoy
Oliver Elgie photo

Oliver Elgie

Senior Associate, London

Oliver Elgie
Marco de Sousa photo

Marco de Sousa

Senior Associate, New York

Marco de Sousa
Joanne Keillor photo

Joanne Keillor

Senior Associate, London

Joanne Keillor

Native Title and Indigenous Heritage

True expertise, delivered commercially