Business and human rights - Law Society to consult leading lawyers
A practitioners' advisory group has been set up to inform the future work of the Law Society of England and Wales on business and human rights issues, including advice and guidance aimed at the legal profession.
In setting up the group, the Law Society has become the first bar association in the world to review the approach of the legal services sector to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The guiding principles, which were adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council in June 2011, clarify the roles and responsibilities of states and business enterprises in relation to corporate human rights impacts.
Meeting regularly over the next six months, the advisory group will focus on three key areas: education and raising awareness; codes of conduct and regulation, and practical guidance.
It is made up of leading lawyers from across the profession, including:
- Robert Heslett, past president of the Law Society and member of the Law Society and IBA councils
- Juliya Arbisman, lawyer at Clifford Chance and member of the Law Society Human Rights Committee
- Nicole Bigby, partner and director of risk at Berwin Leighton Paisner
- Richard Brophy, head of corporate responsibility at Herbert Smith Freehills
- Jonathan Exten-Wright, partner at DLA Piper
- Daniel Cooke, Counsel, Global Projects at BP and member of the Law Society International Issues Committee
- Andrew Denny, martner at Allen and Overy
- Marjon Esfandiary, Global Category Council at Unilever and member of the Law Society Human Rights committee
- Rae Lindsay, partner at Clifford Chance
- Shanta Martin, solicitor, International and Group Claims Department at Leigh Day
- Ruby Sandhu, partner, business and human rights, at Amsterdam Partners
The advisory group will launch its findings in a report early next year.
Nicholas Fluck, president of the Law Society, said:
'The guiding principles are not yet very well-known or understood in the legal profession, indicating there is a greater need for training and education. It is also crucial that the profession consider how the principles fit together with professional codes of conduct. We have set up the Business and Human Rights advisory group to look at how we can support lawyers in this area.
'While the guiding principles do not impose legal obligations on companies, they are increasingly being reflected and referred to in law, regulation and bilateral contracts.
'Some firms are already developing human rights policies, but where our members see a need for further advice, guidance or support, we want to be able to provide this.'
