Business & Human Rights

In today’s interconnected world, a company’s approach to human rights can have a dramatic effect on its business activities. Getting this right can reinforce company values, enhance brands and attract new business. However, missteps can damage a company’s reputation, sink shareholder profits and outrage employees. And due to a rapidly increasing set of hard and soft law regulations, human rights violations can lead to legal action and unwanted media attention throughout the world.

At Orrick, we care about corporate purpose and culture, and so do our clients. Our global and cross-practice Business & Human Rights team expertly guides clients through the legal, business, and reputational aspects of:

Human rights
Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)
Responsible and ethical tech and innovation
Sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

Our Services

Peer benchmarking
Policy drafting
Impact assessments
Due diligence processes
Stakeholder engagement
Remediation strategies
Litigation
Arbitration
Training

Our Work

Represent global technology company in class action stemming from alleged human rights violations in their supply chain
Advised asset management company on formation of ESG procedures
Advised content management platform on hate group policy
Advised international human rights body on the normative standards guiding companies whose technologies are abused in conflict
Drafted human rights policy for a consumer telecommunications company
Advised AI company on AI ethics policy
Advised global manufacturer on California Transparency in Supply Chains Act and Modern Slavery Act
Conducted human rights impact assessment and created stakeholder engagement plan for social impact start-up