Collaborating to advance respect for human rights in commercial legal practice.

Business and Human Rights Lawyers Association

A global platform that inspires and advances business and human rights leadership, learning, collaboration and practices among commercial law firms and business lawyers around the world.

Our vision

Law firms and business lawyers around the world recognise both their and their clients’ responsibility to respect human rights in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights - and integrate this responsibility into their client services across commercial legal areas, operations and other activities.

“There is a need to accelerate the dissemination of good practice in the field of business and human rights across the commercial legal profession globally. We encourage lawyers around the world to join and support the Association's ambitions.”

— Rae Lindsay, Co-Chair of the Business and Human Rights Lawyers Association

Benefits of membership and participation

Education and capacity building

Participate in training and capacity-building opportunities targeted to the needs of commercial lawyers specialising in diverse areas of practice.

  • Become familiar with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) - and what commercial lawyers need to know about them.

  • Understand how business and human rights developments are affecting commercial clients.

  • Build confidence talking to clients about human rights issues and applying the UNGPs and other relevant standards in practice.

Peer learning and collaboration

Exchange insights, approaches, challenges and perspectives with peers from law firms around the world in a trusting environment.

  • Discuss and share real-life approaches to integrating respect for human rights within a commercial law firm.

  • Reflect and share perspectives on the legal and practical implications of key developments.

  • Participate in ‘accelerator groups’ to deepen your expertise and explore how cutting-edge developments will affect your practice area.

Leadership and dissemination

Inspire and support engagement by commercial lawyers with business and human rights as a cross-cutting area of commercial legal practice.

  • Disseminate examples of leading practices and approaches, and share insights and learnings.

  • Contribute thought leadership on emerging developments and gaps, including through collaboration with like-minded organisations.

  • Convene an annual conference to catalyse discussion and exchange on emerging developments and questions.

We are keen to expand and broaden our membership and participation across the commercial legal sector.

Explore opportunities to engage

If you are looking to express interest in Membership of the BHRLA, please see the Membership section of our website. For any other enquiries, questions or comments, please use the Engage button.

For more information on how BHRLA handles your personal information, please see our privacy policy.

Founding member firms

Law firm members

Board of Directors

Directors:

  • Meriam Al-Rashid | Partner, Eversheds Sutherland

  • Helene Bogen | Senior Associate, Wiersholm

  • Antony Crockett | Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills

  • Jonathan Exten-Wright | Partner, DLA Piper

  • Roger Leese | Partner, Clifford Chance

  • Samantha Rowe | Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton

  • Martijn Scheltema | Partner, Pels Rijcken

  • Fredrik Svensson | Partner, Mannheimer Swartling

  • Phoebe Wynn-Pope | Head of Responsible Business and ESG, Corrs Chambers Westgarth

Co-chairs:

  • Rae Lindsay | Partner, Clifford Chance

  • Douglass Cassel | Counsel, King & Spalding