Business & Human Rights

39 Essex Chambers brings together its commercial and public law and human rights disciplines to be able to offer clients the expertise to navigate the growing field of Business and Human Rights. Recognised and promoted by the UN through its Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, this is now an essential component – not only of companies’ corporate social responsibilities – but of the legal landscape across most commercial sectors – including for supply chains, procurement, financial compliance, and environmental and investment strategies. ‘Soft’ law norms are increasingly reflected in new legislative initiatives resulting in greater compliance risks for corporates and other private entities. There is also growing recognition by many corporates of the ‘value added’ in leading in this field and the benefits in terms of global value chains.

With the increasing trend to incorporate public and human rights norms in traditionally private law settings, our unique combination of sector specific knowledge across industry, in both domestic and international settings, our understanding of the cross-cutting issues in commercial and investment arbitrations, and our strength and depth of offering across all public and human rights disciplines gives 39 Essex a pre-eminent standing in this field.

Our barristers can work alongside in-house teams, as external consultants, or can provide strategic, legal and litigation advice.

Our expertise includes:

• Human rights assessments and compliance with UNGP and OECD guidelines.
• Supply chain and Modern Slavery Act s. 54 transparency statements.
• Procurement.
• Finance – equator principles.
• Non-financial reporting requirements.
• Responsible sourcing.
• Investment and human rights.
• ECHR / human rights grounds of challenge – including expropriation and procedural challenges – in domestic and international proceedings, including investment treaty arbitrations.