Business and Human Rights — London (Holborn Gate)

Our London office at Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7QH, provides cross-disciplinary advice to companies, investors and boards on the intersection of corporate conduct and human rights law. We advise on risk management, compliance, transactional diligence and remedial processes that reflect England and Wales law and relevant international standards.

Practice focus and approach

We assist organisations in identifying and managing human rights impacts arising from operations, supply chains and business relationships. Work typically combines legal analysis with practical risk management — integrating contractual protections, auditing and remediation frameworks, stakeholder engagement and disclosure obligations. Advice recognises that statutory duties and reporting expectations continue to evolve across jurisdictions.

Key services and advisory areas

• Human rights due diligence (HRDD) programmes and policies aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and OECD guidance.
• Modern Slavery Act compliance, production of statements and supply chain remediation strategies under England and Wales law.
• Risk assessment in transactions: M&A diligence, warranties and contractual protections for buyer and seller positions.
• Operational remediation: designing grievance mechanisms, corrective action plans and monitoring arrangements.
• Corporate reporting and governance advice, including board-level risk allocation and public disclosure obligations.
• Cross-border considerations and co-ordination of multi-jurisdictional responses where incidents touch on other UK jurisdictions or international law.

Practical checklist for senior management

• Map operations and value chains to identify potential and actual human rights impacts.
• Integrate HRDD into procurement, risk and compliance functions; set clear escalation routes to senior management.
• Ensure contractual clauses with suppliers and partners require cooperation on investigations and remediation.
• Establish or review grievance and remediation mechanisms that are accessible, predictable and fair.
• Maintain documented processes and records to support disclosures and to demonstrate steps taken to identify and mitigate risks.
• Plan communications that address both legal obligations and stakeholder expectations in a timely, transparent manner.

Jurisdiction and sources

Advice on substance and procedure is principally framed by the law of England and Wales. Relevant official sources and guidance include:

• legislation.gov.uk (statutes such as the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the Companies Act 2006)
• gov.uk (government guidance and public reporting requirements)
• UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN OHCHR) — UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
• OECD — OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and related HRDD guidance

Note that legal frameworks and enforcement practices may differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland; separate local advice should be obtained where operations or incidents fall within those jurisdictions.

General information only; not legal advice and not a substitute for advice on a particular matter.