As scrutiny on the way supply chains are managed increases, these issues are no longer solely the domain of the legal team. From executives embedding human rights considerations into their business strategy, to finance directors facing greater scrutiny on ESG indicators, operational and procurement teams must now consider how to adapt their approach to reflect new forms of risk.

Freshfields advises across the full sphere of legislative obligations, regulatory compliance and civil litigation, providing clients with strategies to avoid business disruption and loss of opportunity, reputational damage, increased costs and ultimately litigation. Having a global advisor has never been more important, as claims are increasingly brought against parent companies for infringements linked to overseas subsidiaries and global supply chains. Obligations must be carefully considered in each jurisdiction to understand what is relevant amid the multiplicity of standards.

Our human rights legal and compliance strategies are as vigorous as our anti-bribery and corruption investigations and go further than compliance. Having participated in the research that led to the development of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, our dedicated global business and human rights practice are best placed to advise our clients on the issues that flow from them. The principles are widely used by organisations to scope and address human rights issues that help them assess and mitigate risk in a proportionate and iterative fashion, which in turn protects their reputation and preserves corporate value.