BHRLA Conference: Navigating Change

Agenda

Day one 

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Welcome by Sam Eastwood

- Sam Eastwood, Partner, Mayer Brown

Sam advises corporates and financial institutions on anti-corruption, economic sanctions, anti-money laundering and human rights in the context of investigations, complex transactions and compliance programme development and testing. He also advises corporates across a range of sectors, in particular aerospace and defence, chemicals, financial institutions, oil and gas, telecommunications, mining, shipping, transportation, engineering and heavy machinery, and FMCG. https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/people/e/eastwood-sam 

Human Rights Regulation – where we are now, where we are headed 

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Panellists from law firms, business, international organisations, and civil society examine key developments and trends that have shaped the Business and Human Rights (BHR) field over the past year and provide a forward-looking analysis of its trajectory over the next decade. They will consider how today’s “noise” around hardening legal expectations for companies will translate in ten years – what are likely to be the defining elements of the BHR landscape in 2035? What does that mean for commercial lawyers advising corporate clients, in terms of evolving professional skills, expertise, and ethical responsibilities required to address emerging challenges in a rapidly changing business environment?

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Discussants: 

- Jonathan Drimmer, Partner, Paul Hastings

Jon represents and advises companies, individuals, associations, governments and MSIs on issues related to business and human rights. He is a Senior Advisor at BSR, the North American Expert Advisor for the Global Business Initiative on Human Rights, and a Strategic Advisor to the Secretariat of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. He is a frequent speaker, author, and commentator on issues related to business and human rights and sustainability more generally, and taught human rights-related courses at Georgetown University Law Center for 20 years. https://www.paulhastings.com/professionals/jondrimmer  

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- Jennifer Easterday, Head of Human Rights, Booking.com

Jennifer Easterday is the Head of Human Rights at Booking.com, where she is leading the company’s inaugural Human Rights Program and related regulatory compliance initiatives. Prior to joining Booking.com, she was the Executive Director and co-Founder of JustPeace Labs, a US 501(c)(3) organization that championed the ethical and responsible development of digital technology in high-risk and conflict-affected markets, and a doctoral researcher at Leiden University, studying the legal frameworks of transitions from conflict to peace. She graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) and is licensed to practice law in the State of California. Jennifer lives in Barcelona, Spain. https://jennifereasterday.com 

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- Nicola Bonucci, Board Member, the Basel Institute on Governance; Associate Professor, the University of Paris Cité 

Nicola was the former Director of Legal Affairs at OECD. Following that he was, until recently, Partner in the Global Trade and Investigations & White-Collar Defense practices at Paul Hastings, Paris office. He has been one of the most prominent international voices in anti-corruption and anti-bribery as well as responsible business conduct, having contributed to the OECD’s efforts in these areas for more than two decades. He has worked extensively with international institutions like the European Union, the G20, FATF, the IMF, the World Bank, and the United Nations system. https://baselgovernance.org/about-us/people/nicola-bonucci 

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- Emily Norton, Lead, Regulatory Engagement & Sustainability Initiatives, OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct

Emily is policy lead on regulatory engagement in the OECD’s Centre for Responsible Business Conduct, leading the team’s strategy, research and policy engagement on due diligence legislation. She has been with the OECD for 4 years, during which time she also led the Centre’s work on sustainability certifications, industry schemes and multi-stakeholder initiatives, including the OECD alignment assessment of schemes in the garment, agriculture and minerals sectors.  Prior to joining the OECD, Emily worked as a corporate lawyer in the energy team at Herbert Smith Freehills (London and Tokyo), and at Global Witness where she led research, policy and advocacy work on due diligence, with a particular focus on conflict minerals and gold supply chains. She holds a Masters in Global Politics from the London School of Economics. https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-norton-9121a920/ 

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Additional Resources:

• Jon Drimmer’s blog post “Our Top 10 Predicted Business and Human Rights Issues for 2025” https://www.paulhastings.com/insights/international-regulatory-enforcement/our-top-10-predicted-business-and-human-rights-issues-for-2025 

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UK in Focus - Will the UK be the Tortoise or the Hare on corporate human rights due diligence?

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In many respects, the UK was at the vanguard of business and human rights with the introduction of the first National Action Plan on Implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Modern Slavery Act 2015. In 2017, the UK Joint Committee on Human Rights proposed that section 7 of the UK Bribery Act (which introduced an offence if a company fails to prevent bribery) could be used for corporate human rights abuses. In 2020, BIICL and Quinn Emanuel (with support from Hogan Lovells) published a study on the feasibility of such a failure to prevent mechanism for corporate human rights harms. Since then, UK CSOs, trade unions, businesses, and investors have called for a UK Human Rights and Environment Act. In 2023, Baroness Young of Hornsey introduced the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill. However, in October 2024, the UK House of Lords Select Committee published its report on the review of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015, finding that the UK has ‘fallen behind’ on international due diligence developments and recommending that the UK adopts modern slavery due diligence legislation. 

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By contrast, by July 2026, all EU Member States will have introduced transposition laws resulting from the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) establishing mandatory HREDD process.

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As developments around human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) laws are taking place rapidly across Europe, this session considers the UK’s progress in this area including the legal feasibility of introducing into UK law a corporate duty to prevent human rights and environmental harms or a HREDD law akin to CSDDD in recognition of the fact that large UK companies are already subject to HREDD requirements in other jurisdictions and will be in scope of CSDDD transposition laws, which also cover certain non-EU companies.

Discussants: 

- Baroness Young of Hornsey, Member of House of Lords of the UK

Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey became one of the first Black Women members of the House of Lords in 2004. Raised in foster care in north London, she studied at the New College of Speech and Drama, then worked as an actress, before becoming Professor of Cultural Studies at Middlesex University. After receiving an OBE in 2001, she was Head of Culture at the Greater London Authority. In 2004, Lola was appointed as an independent Crossbench member of the House of Lords. In 2017, she chaired the Man Booker Prize judging panel. An active campaigner against modern slavery and unsustainable business practices, especially in fashion, her work in this sphere is known nationally and internationally. Lola is currently Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, and her memoir, ‘8 Weeks: Looking Back, Moving Forwards, Defying the Odds’ was published in November 2024. https://members.parliament.uk/member/3696/contact 

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- Rae Lindsay, Partner, Clifford Chance; Chair, BHRLA

Rae represents governments, international organisations and multinational corporations across a range of sectors. In the area of business and human rights, she advises across the spectrum of issues that arise: from policies and their implementation, through risk assessment and management, due diligence, incorporation of human rights considerations into transactions and business relationships, investigations as well as dispute avoidance and resolution. She often advises clients in complex matters arising in high-risk areas and conflict zones. Her work increasingly involves matters concerning the human rights impacts of climate change (and the intersections of environmental and social issues). https://www.cliffordchance.com/people_and_places/people/partners/gb/rae_lindsay.html

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- Julianne Hughes-Jennet, Partner, Quinn Emanuel

Julianne is a versatile disputes lawyer with extensive experience of complex, high-value commercial disputes and investigations including in the financial services, natural resources, life sciences, and technology and telecommunications sectors. She is a specialist in group litigation and her practice also straddles ESG litigation, securities litigation, white-collar crime, and investigations, including follow data breaches. She advises regularly on corporate liability under tort law, climate change litigation and liability for untrue or misleading statements or failures, including greenwashing. She also has significant experience in litigation funding. Julianne also advises on employment law matters, including whistleblowing and discrimination claims. She is the co-author of “A UK Failure to Prevent Mechanism for Corporate Human Rights Harms,” published by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. https://www.quinnemanuel.com/attorneys/hughes-jennett-julianne/ 

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Additional Resources:

• “A UK Failure to Prevent Mechanism for Corporate Human Rights Harms,” published by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law https://www.biicl.org/documents/84_failure_to_prevent_final_10_feb.pdf 
• Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill. https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/53150/documents/4066 

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In House Perspectives on Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence and Reporting in Global Supply Chains and Implications for External Counsel

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This panel examines how companies identify and manage human rights and environmental risks and impacts in light of emerging legal and regulatory requirements for due diligence and reporting. By looking at the who, how, what and why of addressing value chain due diligence, the conversation will explore how evolving frameworks are influencing corporate strategies, reshaping risk management functions, and redefining the roles and responsibilities of in-house counsel.

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Among the issues panellists will delve into are: 

• how can companies set themselves up internally for success, what role should risk management and legal teams be playing and when, and how to engage external stakeholders
• whether human rights and environmental due diligence can be brought together in a joined up way
• whether looking at this as a risk and compliance exercise means opportunities might be missed.

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Moderator: 

- Moira Thompson, Head of Business and Human Rights, Slaughter & May

Moira spent twelve years working in senior roles at BT and Vodafone, leading work on responsible business conduct, environmental management, and human and digital rights. She has deep experience applying both legal requirements and global standards, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, to international business operations. Her work has included human rights governance and policy development, due diligence, artificial intelligence ethics, children's rights, conflict settings, digital rights, sports broadcasting, and supply. https://www.slaughterandmay.com/people/moira-thompson-oliver/ 

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Panellists: 

- Peter Nestor, Global Head of Human Rights, Novartis

Peter is an attorney and business and human rights expert with cross-sector experience implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. As the former human rights director of Business for Social Responsibility, he is actively building a human rights program at Novartis. https://www.linkedin.com/in/peternestor/?originalSubdomain=uk 

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- Ben Cattaneo, Founder, The Decision-Making Studio

Ben Cattaneo is the Founder of The Decision-Making Studio, a boutique consultancy that helps organisations and leaders make quality decisions under uncertainty. He is the co-author of Decision-Making in the Polycrisis Era (2024). Ben possesses over two decades of experience in senior strategy and risk management roles at BT (British Telecom) Group, Accenture, and Control Risks - a specialist international political risk consultancy and ERM - the world’s largest sustainability consultancy. Ben has led in integrating human rights considerations into risk management frameworks and practices, most recently at BT Group. He also works with individuals and organisations to consider and integrate human rights and ethical factors within decision-making. Ben has led work on implementing human rights considerations within organisational security practices. Ben has guest lectured at Yale University on decision-making and resilience. He hosts and produces The Decision-Making Studio Podcast which features conversations with a variety of thinkers and practitioners about uncertainty and decision-making across many walks of life. He holds an MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London, an MA in International Relations from The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland and a BA (Hons) from The University of Windsor, Canada. Ben is a Canadian based in London (UK). https://thedecisionmaking.studio/ 

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Forced Labour Regulation: Practice Perspectives on Import Bans

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This panel will provide a comprehensive analysis of import bans and emerging enforcement trends related to forced labour, offering valuable insights into their implications for legal practice. Experts will discuss the alignment of forced labour measures with International Labour Organization (ILO) definitions and indicators, comparing approaches in the U.S. and EU. The session will examine key frameworks such as the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA) and Section 307, alongside EU directives including the CSRD, the CSDDD, and sector-specific measures on forced labour, batteries, and deforestation.

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Panellists will also forecast enforcement trends and their impact on global business practices, highlighting the evolving role of legal advisors in supporting companies. Discussions will emphasize a shift from reactive compliance to proactive, rights-respecting strategies, focusing on how corporations can identify, mitigate, and remedy forced labour risks in their supply chains. Attendees will gain practical guidance on navigating this complex regulatory landscape and preparing for future developments in implementation and enforcement.

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Moderator: 

- Clare Connellan, Partner, White & Case

Clare advises companies, state entities, contractors, owners and operators on the resolution of complex disputes, with a particular focus on disputes within the construction and engineering industry. She is also Head of White & Case's Business & Human Rights Specialty Practice and also sits on the core team of ESG & Sustainability Speciality Group and on the Firm's Responsible Business Working Group. She is consulted in relation to issues involving the UNGPs, SDGs and UN Global Compact; the UK Modern Slavery Act compliance and statements; human rights governance, risk assessments and reputational issues; supply chain governance and risk assessments; corporate disclosures and sustainability reporting; and tailored human rights training. Clare provides pro bono support on business and human rights issues, including for multi-stakeholder initiatives. https://www.whitecase.com/people/clare-connellan

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Panellists:

- Dominique Strieder, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland

Dominique provides expert counsel to both national and international clients on compliance, internal investigations, criminal law proceedings and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters. Dominique Strieder is a Partner in the area of compliance and commercial criminal law in the Frankfurt office of Eversheds Sutherland. As an experienced professional in ESG compliance, Dominique advises on national and international supply chain and regulatory compliance issues. ​​https://www.eversheds-sutherland.com/en/global/people/strieder-dominique

- John Foote, Partner at Kelley, Drye & Warren

John brings an in-depth understanding of international trade law, U.S. trade policy, and global supply chains to his practice advising companies with trade compliance and enforcement challenges—especially related to forced labour trade laws. Whether helping clients navigate trade enforcement actions, conducting sophisticated supply chain due diligence, or helping clients resolve disputes with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, John delivers sound counsel characterized by a dual orientation toward policy and compliance. John is a respected authority on the use of trade laws to target forced labour in global supply chains. He is passionate about protecting both his clients and vulnerable populations from the deleterious impact of forced labour in global supply chains. https://www.kelleydrye.com/people/john-m-foote 

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- David Stepp, Partner, Crowell & Moring

David provides multinational companies with strategic advice on global customs and international trade compliance matters. He advises companies with complex global supply chains in a wide variety of industries, including electronics, automotive, aerospace, e-commerce, apparel, home improvement, agriculture, seafood, defense, medical supplies, among others. As a member of Crowell’s International Trade Group and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) team, David advises companies on compliance with forced labour and human rights requirements. He has deep experience assisting companies in mapping their supply chains, including linking imported products back to their raw materials using enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and other inventory management audit tools. David is highly experienced in forced labour supply chain mapping and risk assessments, and verifying due diligence efforts with on-the-ground visits to client facilities incorporating third party intelligence and audit resources. He is a thought leader and frequent speaker in the U.S. and Europe on the enforcement of national laws prohibiting forced labour and modern slavery and the development of strategies to achieve and maintain compliance. https://www.crowell.com/en/professionals/david-r-stepp 

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- Hannah Edmonds-Camara, Special Counsel, Covington & Burling

Hannah is a founding member of Covington’s BHR practice and advises on a breadth of BHR and ESG issues. In particular, Hannah has deep experience advising on the development and implementation of global human rights and environmental due diligence programmes, in response to the evolving, global regulatory landscape. She advises on: compliance with ESG disclosure and due diligence requirements, including the EU’s CSRD, CSDDD, EUDR; the EU Forced Labour Regulation; BHR-related investigations and remediation strategies, particularly relating to forced labour risks; responding to complaints raised through non-judicial grievance mechanisms (including OECD National Contact Points); human rights due diligence in an M&A context; global risk assessments; workplace culture reviews; design of project-specific human rights frameworks and stakeholder engagement strategies; and policy engagement on BHR legislative files. https://www.cov.com/en/professionals/e/hannah-edmonds-camara 

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Additional Resources:

• John Foote’s blog post “What To Expect from the Trump Administration on Forced Labor & Trade” https://substack.com/home/post/p-151360947

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European Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence and Reporting Requirements

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1. Transposition and Regulation of CSDDD and CSRD

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This panel explores the dual processes of transposition and regulation. Panellists will offer an overview of the current state of play, highlighting initial progress and challenges in implementing these directives across various jurisdictions. The conversation will address specific legal and political challenges encountered during the transposition process, such as differences in national legislative approaches, administrative hurdles, and the implications of varying political priorities. Particular attention will be given to the forthcoming omnibus simplification package, the phenomenon of “gold plating,” where some jurisdictions adopt more stringent measures than those required by the directives, and how these variations could shape the broader EU regulatory landscape.

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The discussion will also explore potential areas of convergence and divergence among member states and the critical role of external stakeholders in supporting effective implementation. Panellists will discuss the potential and risks relating to alignment of national implementation efforts with the core due diligence principles outlined in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

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Discussants: 

- Martijn Scheltema, Partner, Pels Rijcken; Board Member, BHRLA

Martijn Scheltema joined Pels Rijcken in 1997 as a Supreme Court litigator. He handles cases in the area of private law in relation to the public sector, and expropriation. In addition, he handles cases concerning national and international commercial disputes regarding, inter alia, the annulment of arbitral awards and execution of arbitral awards and other judgments. Outside the Supreme Court practice, he also works on cases involving business human rights, climate change and Sustainable Development Goals. A unique aspect of this business human rights practice involves human rights and artificial intelligence. https://pelsrijcken.nl/en/people/martijn-scheltema

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- Gabrielle Holly, Chief Adviser of Human Rights and Tech and Business, Danish Institute for Human Rights

Gabrielle is a business and human rights specialist and an experienced commercial disputes practitioner having practiced at Magic Circle firms in Australia and the UK. Gabrielle's practice focused on business and human rights and public international law, advising companies and states on their obligations under international legal frameworks. She currently leads the work of the Institute on legal and regulatory developments of relevance to business and human rights. As a practitioner, Gabrielle has advised on matters in the business and human rights space, including on legal exposure for human rights and environmental impacts arising from extraterritorial activities and on the implementation of human rights frameworks. https://www.humanrights.dk/staff/gabrielle-holly 

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- Martijn Snoep, Chairman of the Board, The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets

Martijn is responsible for enforcing competition and consumer protection laws and regulating the energy, telecom, and digital sectors. With a workforce of 750 professionals, Martijn is actively involved in executing the ACM’s new strategy and positioning it with its key stakeholders and in society. Until his appointment at ACM, he worked at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek for 28 years. Operating from both their Amsterdam and Brussels locations, Mr. Snoep gave advice to businesses about the application of competition law in the Netherlands and abroad. Martijn is also vice-Chair of the Board of the Aruba Fair Trade Authority (AFTA), Aruba’s competition authority since 1 January 2024. https://www.acm.nl/en/about-acm/our-organization/board/martijn-snoep 

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- Siobhán McInerny-Lankford, Head of Equality, Roma and Social Rights, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights

Siobhán is a human rights lawyer with expertise in EU human rights law, anti-discrimination, international development, and environmental and social policy. From 2002-2023 she worked for the World Bank’s Legal Department, serving as both an operational and advisory lawyer. She was legal advisor to the World Bank’s first Human Rights Trust Fund established in the Bank’s policy department and represented the Bank in human rights fora at the UN, EU and the OECD. Prior to joining the World Bank she worked in private practice in Washington, D.C.. https://fra.europa.eu/en/person/mcinerney-lankford-siobhan 

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- Heidi Hautala, former Vice-President, European Parliament

Heidi is a former Vice-President of the European Parliament and a long-term MEP. In Finland, she has been a Member of Parliament and a Minister for Development Cooperation and State Ownership Steering. Human rights, transparency, global justice and the environment have always been at the heart of her work. During her last two terms at the European Parliament, she focused on promoting binding rules for Responsible Business Conduct. She created a cross-party working group on RBC and took part in drafting key legislation in this field, namely the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the Deforestation Regulation.  https://www.heidihautala.fi/en/ 

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- Michaela Streibelt, European Legal Advisor, Responsible Contracting Project

Michaela is a German lawyer and lecturer in business and human rights. She is an advisor at the German Helpdesk on Business & Human Rights, which is a governmental consultancy that advises German companies on implementing human rights and environmental due diligence. Her work for RCP focuses on drafting and disseminating model contract clauses for the German and European context and on providing updates and guidance to companies and other stakeholders regarding legislative developments in the EU. She is a member of the German team of the European Model Contract Clauses for Responsible and Sustainable Supply Chains Working Group. https://www.responsiblecontracting.org/michaela-streibelt 

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2. Advising Non-EU Companies Directly or Indirectly Affected by CSDDD 

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The European Union’s recent regulatory initiatives are notable for their extra-territorial reach, both direct (companies incorporated outside of the EU that are directly in-scope of and subject to the regulations) and indirect (companies that form part of in-scope EU companies’ upstream and downstream supply chains). This panel will examine the impact of evolving EU regulatory framework on BHR practice in various jurisdictions across the globe. Panelists will explore the influence of EU regulation on corporate awareness and efforts to respect human rights beyond the EU and cultural, technical and legal forces that may hinder extra-territorial implementation. The conversation will also explore how companies in Asia, Europe and America are preparing to comply with CSDDD, the practical challenges they are experiencing, and the impact of these regulations on legal practice, assessing the role of external and in-house lawyers, consultants and experts in meeting evolving expectations and compliance requirements in an interconnected global market. 

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Moderator:

- Samantha Rowe, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton; Board Member, BHRLA

Samantha is a partner in the International Dispute Resolution and ESG Groups at Debevoise & Plimpton whose practice focuses on international arbitration, public international law and ESG regulatory advice. Ms. Rowe is a highly active member of the arbitration, public international law communities and ESG. She serves on the Board of the Business and Human Rights Lawyers Association and is a member of the ICC’s Global Commission on Anti-corruption and Corporate Responsibility. https://www.debevoise.com/samantharowe

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Panellists:

- Hideaki (Roy) Umetsu, Partner, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

Hideaki Umetsu is the managing partner of the New York office of Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, a Japanese law firm, and has been engaged in cross-border corporate matters for over 20 years. His areas of expertise include corporate/M&A, compliance (including anti-corruption and investigations), business and human rights, and trade compliance (economic sanctions and import/export controls). He is actively involved in policy-making and legislative processes for the government and public sector. He has served as an expert panel member for the Japanese government, including working with the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) on anti-corruption legislation and the Cabinet Secretariat on economic security and geopolitical legal matters. He has also collaborated with the UNDP on projects such as the Business and Human Rights Academy. He was the past Co-Chair of the Asia Pacific Regional Forum and is the current Co-Vice Chair of the Future of Legal Service Commission of the International Bar Association. 

https://www.morihamada.com/en/people/hideaki-umetsu 

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- Junko Watanabe, Partner, Nishimura & Asahi

Junko advises companies in dealing with sustainability-related matters from a global perspective, including international human rights law, international labour law, EU laws and regulations on human rights, environment and other sustainability-related issues, and the laws of Asian countries. Based on her experience working on a wide range of domestic and international corporate matters including various matters in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries for more than seven years and overseas study and business experience in the UK for three years, she has been engaged in supporting Japanese companies in dealing with sustainability issues, while collaborating in various legal fields and jurisdictions including M&A, labour issues, European law and Asian law. She was also the lead in the development of the "Guideline for Responsible Business Conduct for the Textile and Clothing Industry of Japan" for human rights due diligence in the textile and apparel industry, which was formulated by the Japan Textile Federation in July 2022, as an external collaborator for the International Labour Organization (ILO). https://www.nishimura.com/en/people/junko-watanabe 

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- Lucy Blake, Partner, Jenner & Block

Lucy helps clients investigate, respond to, recover from, and prevent all manner of wrongdoing. This includes bribery and other forms of white-collar crime, toxic workplace cultures, and ESG risks such as human rights and supply chain abuses. Lucy serves as a Co-Chair of the firm’s Human Rights and Global Strategy Practice. Corporate crises tend to be multi-faceted, and clients value Lucy’s ability to propose a cohesive strategy in “quarterbacking” simultaneous cross-border proceedings, such as internal and external investigations by a variety of prosecutors and regulators (including the SFO, FCA, and US DOJ) as well as litigation, parliamentary proceedings, and public inquiries. She was a director of Amnesty International UK for six years, as the board’s expert in human rights law and organizational governance. https://www.jenner.com/en/people/lucy-blake

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- Nathan Lankford, Member & Practice Lead of Business and Human Rights, Miller & Chevalier

Nate Lankford is a trusted advisor to multinational companies on matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), business and human rights (BHR), and other areas of international corporate compliance. Mr. Lankford partners with clients in multi-jurisdictional investigations, risk assessments, compliance program design and implementation, due diligence, compliance audits, and responsible sourcing strategies. In doing so, he helps clients holistically manage risks and build trust with stakeholders. Mr. Lankford founded Miller & Chevalier's Business & Human Rights Practice and serves as its Practice Lead. In this role, Mr. Lankford helps companies live up to their responsibility to respect human rights – as articulated in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights – and to keep pace with the rapidly evolving ecosystem of voluntary standards, ESG criteria, emerging hard law rules for disclosures and mandatory due diligence, and increasing enforcement and litigation risks. https://www.millerchevalier.com/professional/nate-lankford

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- Santiago Zuleta, Partner, Zulegal

Santiago focuses his practice on conflict resolution, litigation, and consultancy in human rights, investment arbitration, and transitional justice. He has provided advice to companies, public entities, and civil society actors on the implementation of legal and communication strategies to ensure compliance with national and international standards on business and human rights. https://zulegal.com/en/portfolio/santiago-zuleta/

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- Pratik Bakshi, Counsel (ESG), BTG Advaya

Pratik is a Counsel in the ESG and Impact practice of BTG Advaya. Pratik is engaged by clients from various sectors, such as, retail, technology, and extraction to advise on legal, regulatory, and strategic issues relating to Business and Human Rights (BHR), Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), business crime, economic trade and sanctions. Pratik has also been actively involved in policy and advocacy and has been consulted for the drafting of a modern slavery legislation, a legislation on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), and was on the sounding board for the drafting of the Hague Rules on Business and Human Rights Arbitration. He currently serves as a regional board member for Asia-Pacific of Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers. https://www.btgadvaya.com/pratik-bakshi

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Additional Resources:

• Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence in Asia: Principles and Practices in Action https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucGU9RReuUo
• EU-Japan Open Dialogue: EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive https://www.eu-japan.eu/events/eu-japan-open-dialogue-eu-corporate-sustainability-due-diligence-directive
• What the EU Sustainability Directive Will Mean for Companies, Law360 | Jenner & Block LLP | Law Firm https://www.jenner.com/en/news-insights/publications/what-the-eu-sustainability-directive-will-mean-for-companies-law360
• Client Alert: Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive: Five Key Questions Answered Jenner & Block LLP | Law Firm https://www.jenner.com/en/news-insights/publications/client-alert-corporate-sustainability-due-diligence-directive-five-key-questions-answered
• European Union Finally Adopts Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive | Debevoise In Depth https://www.debevoise.com/insights/publications/2024/06/european-union-finally-adopts-corporate-sustain 

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3. Lessons from French Duty of Vigilance Law, German Supply Chain Act

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This panel will provide an in-depth exploration of the two national frameworks—the French Duty of Vigilance Law and the German Supply Chain Act. Panellists will examine the core elements of each legal model, discussing areas of alignment as well as key differences in their design, scope, and implementation. The session will highlight emerging guidance and enforcement practices under these laws, offering practical insights into how companies are adapting their operations to meet compliance requirements. Through real-world examples, panellists will shed light on the challenges and opportunities businesses face under these frameworks, including insights into risk management, stakeholder engagement, and supply chain oversight.

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The discussion will also focus on the broader implications of these national frameworks for the transposition, implementation, and enforcement of the EU’s CSDDD and CSRD. Panellists will explore how lessons learned from the French and German approaches can inform the development of consistent and effective EU-wide standards while addressing potential pitfalls, such as regulatory fragmentation or overly burdensome compliance requirements.

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Discussants: 

- Ophélia Claude, Partner, Paul Hastings France

Ophélia’s expertise spans a broad spectrum of white-collar crime, compliance, and investigations, with a strong focus on business & human rights corporate sustainability due diligence, and ESG-related litigation. Ophélia is representing companies in four landmark cases under the French vigilance law and acting as counsel in criminal investigations related business and human rights, including allegations of complicity to war crimes in cand climate change issues. She teaches corporate sustainability due diligence at the Sorbonne University as well as at the University of Cergy Pontoise. https://www.paulhastings.com/professionals/opheliaclaude 

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- Todd Ptak, Head of Sustainability Legal Affairs, Airbus 

Todd works in the Legal & Compliance department of the aerospace company Airbus at the operational headquarters in Toulouse, France. Since he joined in 2010, Todd has held various positions within the Airbus group, including in the Litigation, Capital Markets and Corporate Governance teams. Before he went in-house, Todd worked as a litigator at law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in Houston and law firm Hogan Lovells in Washington, DC. His professional involvement in ESG matters began when he took responsibility for putting together Airbus' first Non-Financial Statement following passage of the EU's Non-Financial Reporting Directive (the precursor to the CSRD) in 2014. 

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- Lucina Berger, Partner, Hengeler Mueller

Lucina advises on a broad range of corporate matters with a focus on corporate governance, compliance and directors' liabilities issues, on corporate reorganisations and M&A transactions. Her practice also includes capital markets work in connection with M&A transactions and public takeovers. She has a particular focus on the preparation of shareholders' meetings, capital, and other structural measures as well as matters relating to groups of companies. https://www.hengeler.com/en/lawyers/dr-lucina-berger 

Perspectives on Navigating Conflict Affected, High Risk Areas

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This panel will examine the complexities of managing human rights risks and meeting heightened due diligence expectations for companies operating in conflict affected, high risk areas. Through an exploration of industry-specific and geographical case studies, such as the extraction of critical minerals in a conflict-affected country, and telecommunications operations in high huma rights risk markets, the discussion will shed light on the practical difficulties businesses face in identifying, mitigating, and addressing human rights impacts, including those connected with security.

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Panelists will discuss how these challenges intersect with regulatory requirements, international standards, and stakeholder expectations, offering a nuanced understanding of the pressures companies navigate in these high-risk settings. The session will also provide valuable insights into best practices for conducting robust due diligence and adopting responsible business strategies tailored to conflict-affected regions. Drawing on practitioner observations, panelists will explore innovative approaches to managing risks while fostering respect for human rights and compliance with regulatory standards.

Moderator: 

- Vicky Bowman, Senior Adviser, Institute for Human Rights and Business; Independent Chair, Global Network Initiative

Vicky is one of IHRB's Senior Advisors working across a number of human rights themes in sectors including commodities and security. Vicky is the Chair of the Global Network Initiative (GNI), and a member of the Board of the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA). Vicky has been the Director of Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) since July 2013, based in Yangon until November 2022, and currently based in London. She is an Honorary Senior Fellow of the British Institute for International and Comparative Law (BIICL). https://www.ihrb.org/people/vicky-bowman

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Panellists: 

- Peter Hood, Counsel, King & Spalding

Peter specialises in public international law, ESG, sanctions and business and human rights. He has represented states and businesses in some of the leading cases in his field, in the UK and internationally. In addition to his disputes practice, Peter also advises multinationals on human rights and environmental issues in their operations and supply chains, with a particular focus on the energy, tech, mining and automotive sectors.  https://www.kslaw.com/people/peter-hood 

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- Jamie Williamson, Executive Director, The International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers’ Association (ICoCA)

Jamie is an international practitioner with extensive leadership and executive management experience with the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers Association, the ICRC and the UN. Specialised in international law and affairs, national security, compliance, ethics, business and human rights. Currently working with governments, multinational corporations, investors and private security providers to strengthen human rights due diligence, corporate accountability and ESG reporting in global supply chains.  https://icoca.ch/the-secretariat/jamie-williamson/

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- Patrik Hiselius, Director of Human Rights & Inclusion, Telenor; Board Member Alternate, Global Network Initiative

Patrik helps to identify, analyse, prioritise, and operationalise the Social Sustainability agenda. He has extensive strategic and operational experiences to address complex Human Rights as well as Ethical issues based on legal and policy compliance, and stakeholder expectations. He provides specialist legal counsel to senior leaders on Human Rights Due Diligence and actions required by new legislation such as the EU CSDDD. He has worked extensively with external stakeholders, most often in international contexts, to influence positions and to build consensus and coalitions promoting in practical terms the respect of Human Rights.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrik-hiselius-63a09b5/?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2F&originalSubdomain=no 

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Additional Resources:

• Heightened Human Rights Due Diligence for Business in Conflict-Affected Contexts: A Guide, UNDP, June 2022 https://www.undp.org/publications/heightened-human-rights-due-diligence-business-conflict-affected-contexts-guide 
• Business and Human Rights in Challenging Contexts: Considerations for Leaving and Remaining, UNOHCHR August 2023 https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/tools-and-resources/business-and-human-rights-challenging-contexts-considerations 
• OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High Risk Areas, 2016 (3rd edition) https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/mining.htm 
• ICoCA Case Map https://icoca.ch/case-studies/ 
• Telenor Myanmar Hub https://www.telenor.com/esg/social/human-rights-in-myanmar/myanmar/ \
• Exploring Tech Company Responsibility In Armed Conflict, Global Network Initiative (GNI) and others, 2023 https://globalnetworkinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/High-Res_GNI-Tech-Company-Responsibility-Online-Learning-Series.pdf 

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RECEPTION 

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Day Two

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Members-only Session

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Welcome by Sam Eastwood

Fireside Chat: Robert Spano in Conversation with Meg Roggensack

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A discussion of the intersection of AI, technology, and CSDDD

Discussants:

- Robert Spano, Partner, Gibson Dunn

Robert Spano is a partner in the London and Paris offices and the co-chair of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Practice Group. He practices in the field of EU litigation, and international dispute resolution and advises on regulatory matters. He is a member of the Transnational Litigation, International Arbitration, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation, Technology Regulatory and Litigation, and Public Policy Practice Groups. As the former president of the European Court of Human Rights, he is a leading expert in public international law, business and human rights, EU law, and the law of the European Convention on Human Rights, bringing unparalleled experience from senior roles in the judiciary, private practice and academia. https://www.gibsondunn.com/lawyer/spano-robert/

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- Meg Roggensack, Executive Officer, BHRLA

Meg Roggensack is the Executive Officer of the BHRLA. She Co-Chairs the US Advisory Committee on Responsible Business Conduct, is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center and the former Co-Chair of the Teach BHR Forum. While in private practice at Hogan Lovells, she specialized in international trade and legislative matters.

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Human Rights Due Diligence and the Environment 

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A presentation by Seán O’Connell on the recently released UNDP tool 

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Presenter: 

- Seán O’Connell, Policy Specialist on Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights, UNDP

Seán is leading on global support for implementation of UNDP’s Environmental Justice Strategy. Seán was previously with UNDP in Southeast Asia, including in Vietnam and Lao PDR, working on governance, human rights, rule of law, and parliamentary strengthening. Before joining UNDP, Seán worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland and the Department of Justice of Ireland on human rights and refugee law. https://www.undp.org/rolhr/our-team#:~:text=Se%C3%A1n%20O'Connell%20is%20Policy,of%20UNDP's%20Environmental%20Justice%20Strategy. 

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Indigenous Rights in Focus: FPIC and the Search for Consent 

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This panel will explore the complexities of meaningful and effective engagement with Indigenous groups and local communities, focusing on the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) as outlined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and other international standards. Legal experts with real-world experience in conducting human rights and environmental due diligence and community consultations will share lessons learned from working with Indigenous communities. The session will address the challenges posed by variations in the interpretation and implementation of FPIC across countries and regions, offering insights into how businesses can navigate these differences effectively and will invite delegates to share their own experiences.

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Panelists will also examine recent regulatory developments at international, regional, and national levels that are shaping expectations for corporate engagement with Indigenous groups. Best practices for gathering and reporting on subjective data will be shared, highlighting practical approaches to ensure transparency, respect, and accountability in community consultations. By drawing on real-life experiences and case studies, the discussion will provide attendees with actionable strategies for fostering meaningful dialogue and building trust with Indigenous communities, while meeting legal and ethical obligations. 

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Moderator:

- Dr Phoebe Wynn-Pope, Head of Responsible Business and ESG, Corrs Chambers Westgarth; Board Member, BHRLA

Phoebe has over 25 years’ experience in human rights.  She advises clients on ESG and responsible business practices and on the development and establishment of strong ESG governance and management frameworks, including the broader business and human rights impacts of their operations, reporting and governance requirements, effective integration of ESG risks and opportunities and working to build value through the adoption of human rights frameworks. Phoebe is Director of CARE Australia, a member of the  University of New South Wales Australian Human Rights Institute Advisory Board and has been Director of International Humanitarian Law at Australian Red Cross. https://www.corrs.com.au/people/phoebe-wynn-pope 

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Panellists:

- Kevin O’Callaghan, Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin

Kevin is a respected litigator in British Columbia and Leader of the firm’s Indigenous Law group. He is also the regional Lead for the Corporate Social Responsibility Law group and actively involved in our Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) initiative. Providing strategic advice on indigenous, regulatory, environmental and other CSR and ESG issues, Kevin advises clients throughout Western and Northern Canada, and around the world. Kevin provides strategic advice on managing projects through environmental assessment and consultation with Indigenous peoples, including advice on negotiations and agreements. https://www.fasken.com/en/kevin-ocallaghan  

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- Clara Serva, Partner and Head of the Business and Human Rights, TozziniFreire

Clara works on prevention, mitigation, remediation, strategic planning, and litigation involving Human Rights impacts on the production chain of business activity. Clara was nominated alternate legal expert for the negotiation process of the UN legally binding instrument on Business and Human Rights and is currently vice-chair of the IBA’s Committee on Business Human Rights. She is also regional advisor for Latin America for the Global Business Initiative on Human Rights (GBI), and is part of the ESG Committee of CFA Society Brazil, among other associations. https://tozzinifreire.com.br/en/advogados/clara-pacce-pinto-serva

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Financial Sector in Focus: ESG and Sustainability Trends and Alignment with UNGPs

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This panel will explore a complex topic which continues to be the subject of significant discussion: how financial institutions can deliver on their responsibility to respect human rights across different types of transaction and business relationship. In the years since the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), voluntary frameworks such as the Equator Principles have evolved, while guidance published by the OECD, UN, PRI and other international and multi-stakeholder initiatives has elaborated upon how human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) may be conducted by financial institutions in different investment contexts.

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Meanwhile, the concept of HREDD has become an integral part of broader sustainability due diligence and reporting laws to which financial institutions are now subject. The exclusion of financial institutions’ “downstream” activities from the scope of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) is a notable exception, albeit this will be subject to review. Against this backdrop financial institutions face increased risks in the form of litigation and OECD National Contact Point (NCP) complaints.

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Moderator: 

- Stuart Neely, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP

Stuart specialises in business & human rights and ESG issues. He has significant experience counselling clients on human rights due diligence, impact assessments, crisis and risk management, program development and public disclosures. He also advises on disputes, regulatory investigations and other contentious matters, including investor activism and OECD National Contact Point (NCP) complaints. He has expertise advising on complex human rights topics including in relation to conflict and unstable regions, supply chains, the use of technology including AI in high-risk jurisdictions, and financial sector-specific issues. He played a lead role in the development of Equator Principles 4. https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en/people/122576  

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Panellists:

- Rachel Barrett, ESG Partner, Linklaters

Rachel Barrett leads Linklaters’ global ESG and Business and Human Rights practices. She has a background in energy and infrastructure project development and financing, and has significant experience advising on the application of international environmental and social standards including the Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards as well as existing and incoming ESG due diligence and disclosure regulation. She also supports businesses in developing their ESG strategies and transition plans, on ESG governance and risk management, and in relation to litigation risk, activism and crisis management. https://www.linklaters.com/en-us/find-a-lawyer/rachel-barrett  

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- Elsa Savourey, Independent Advisor on Human Rights and Social Issues, EFRAG; Permanent Lecturer, Sciences Po Paris and ESSEC Business School

Elsa is an internationally-trained French lawyer and independent advisor. She has over a decade of experience advising companies and investors on corporate sustainability with a focus on human rights, including the implementation of the French Duty of Vigilance Law. She co-founded and was firm-wide coordinator of Herbert Smith Freehills’ market leading business and human rights practice. She then became a Director at Principles for Responsible Investment, where she led a pioneering programme on investors’ management of sustainability impacts and delivery of the SDGs. Elsa has also recently served as a human rights and finance expert with EFRAG and the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights. She is a permanent lecturer at Sciences Po Paris and ESSEC Business School, a member of the expert panel of the French Forum for Responsible Investment, and a stakeholder advisory council member for a multinational company. https://www.linkedin.com/in/elsa-savourey/?originalSubdomain=fr 

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- Andrea Saldarriaga, Director of Sustainability & ESG, Barclays

Andrea is a sustainability practitioner and business and human rights expert with nearly twenty years of experience leading policy and practice to advance social sustainability across sectors and geographies. She has extensive experience in devising and implementing actionable ESG strategies to address complex sustainability challenges, with special emphasis on human rights. She is committed to working collaboratively and engaging with stakeholders to explore constructive approaches to identify and manage ESG risks, with a keen ability to forge consensus to move forward in sensitive contexts and establish fruitful collaborations. https://www.lse.ac.uk/sociology/human-rights/people/andrea-saldarriaga

- Dan Neale, Responsible Investment Social Lead, Church Commissioners for England

Dan is the Social Themes lead at the Church Commissioners for England, an ethical endowment fund committed to leading responsible investment practices and grounded in a principle of ‘respect for people’. He previously worked at the World Benchmarking Alliance’s ‘social transformation’ work, integrating social considerations into benchmarks of the world’s most influential 2,000 companies to ensure the SDG transformations are just and leave no one behind. From 2017 to 2019, Dan was the Director of the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB). The CHRB creates annual rankings of the largest companies (from high-risk sectors) on their approaches to human rights and engages with investors, corporations, civil society and governments to push for improvements in disclosure, alignment with the UNGPs and human rights performance. https://www.icgn.org/daniel-neale  

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Fireside Chat: Antony Crockett in conversation with UK National Contact Point Sam McCahon

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This panel will provide a concise overview of how national contact points’ procedures and objectives under the OECD guideline, with a focus on the UK context. Participants will explore how the process works, from the submission of a case, the mediation between parties, to the final review of the case. The discussion will delve into the challenges practitioners face, such as managing parallel proceedings between the NCP process and litigation, and navigating the mediation phase effectively. Looking to the future, the panel will examine the evolving role of the NCP in an environment shaped by increasingly stringent regulations and supervisory institutions.

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Discussants:

- Antony Crockett, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills; Board Member, BHRLA

Antony specialises in public international law and complex cross-border dispute resolution. He leads our global Business and Human Rights practice and is a member of the firm's ESG leadership group. Antony has extensive experience advising governments, international organisations and private sector clients in the area of public international law, including in relation to investment treaty arbitration, State and diplomatic immunity, sanctions and embargoes, recognition of States and governments, treaty law, human rights and international economic law. https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/our-people/a/antony-crockett

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- Sam McCahon, Head, UK National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct (UK NCP), London, England

Sam McCahon is a licensed attorney with thirty-five years of experience. Sam has represented the government and businesses in commercial and human rights litigation. He has also served as an advisor to the White House, U.S. Department of State and Congress on matters involving corporate compliance related to forced labour. Sam has served as VP/General Counsel and member of the Board of Directors for a multibillion-dollar multinational. Sam has joint leadership of the UK NCP which provides a forum to resolve disputes against Multinational Enterprises alleging violations of the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct.

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How Dispute Resolution is Shaping Human Rights Expectations of Companies: Judicial Reference to UNGPs, OECD Guidelines

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This panel will explore recent developments in BHR-related litigation, including landmark cases such as Milieudefensie et al. vs. Royal Dutch Shell, litigation in the English courts involving questions of parent company liability and human rights abuses in supply chains and cases under the French Law on the Corporate Duty of Vigilance, as well as the existing litigation landscape. The discussion will consider how new legal frameworks such as the EU CSDDD may lead to new types of disputes and the role of existing dispute resolution mechanisms such as the OECD NCP process and corporate grievance mechanisms in that context.

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This session will also consider the ways in which courts have referenced the UNGPs and OECD Guidelines to interpret corporate legal duties and the implications of this for companies’ ongoing due diligence. Attendees will gain insight into the increasing litigation risks related to human rights and guidance on how legal advisors – both in-house and external – can seek to mitigate litigation risk, and to effectively and efficiently resolve disputes, in a manner consistent with the responsibility to respect human rights.

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Moderator: 

- Elisabeth de Nadal, Partner, Cuatrecasas

Elisabeth de Nadal specialises in corporate governance and sustainability risks, international litigation and arbitration, human rights and international politics. Thanks to her training and experience in business law, litigation and ESG, she offers a specialised and cross-cutting approach when advising on business, human rights and sustainability. Coordinator of her firm’s Business, Human Rights and Sustainability Practice, she has extensive experience in (i) the identification and governance of the risk of adverse impacts on human rights and on the environment; (ii) designing and implementing systems for the prevention, management and reparation of damages—both in clients’ operations and in their supply chains and transactions—and (iii) representing clients in disputes and litigation. https://www.cuatrecasas.com/en/global/lawyers/elisabeth-de-nadal 

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Panellists: 

- Clément Dupoirier, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills

Clément is a renowned litigator specialising in complex litigations with high financial and/or reputational risks and all types of proceedings (proceedings on the merits, emergency/interlocutory actions, court-supervised expert investigations, mediation). He acts for a wide variety of French and international clients across a number of industry sectors including banking, energy, chemicals, insurance and reinsurance, consumer products, construction, audit. Clément has also developed a strong pre-contentious and contentious ESG practice. https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/our-people/c/clement-dupoirier

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- Dr Ekaterina Aristova, Research Fellow, Bonavero Institute of Human Rights (University of Oxford)

Dr Ekaterina Aristova is a Research Fellow at the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights in Oxford, where she has coordinated business and human rights research and student programmes since 2019. She is also an Academic Fellow at Middle Temple in London. Ekaterina’s research focuses on strategic human rights and environmental litigation, and she has published extensively on this topic. Her most recent book is Tort Litigation against Transnational Corporations: The Challenge of Jurisdiction in the English Courts (OUP, 2024), a revised version of her PhD thesis completed at the University of Cambridge. Before transitioning to academia, Ekaterina practiced corporate law, completing her training contract at White & Case’s Moscow office and serving several years as an in-house lawyer. https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/people/ekaterina-aristova

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- Andrew Denny, Partner, Allen & Overy Shearman

Andrew heads the UK Public Law Group and was instrumental in founding the firms global Business and Human Rights Practice. Andrew is an experienced litigator specialising in financial and commercial litigation, ESG litigation and public and administrative law, and has a wealth of experience in representing clients in high-stakes disputes before the UK's highest courts. He routinely handles cross-border disputes, including jurisdiction challenges, anti-suit injunctions and parallel claims in different jurisdictions. He advises clients from a range of sectors on litigation risks relating to ESG issues, notably climate change litigation risk including greenwashing issues, and acts for clients in defending claims in the UK courts in relation to alleged human rights and environmental impacts in other jurisdictions. https://www.aoshearman.com/en/people/andrew-denny 

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- Freerk Vermeulen, Partner, NautaDutilh 

Freerk's practice covers both appellate and Supreme Court proceedings, including preliminary references to the Dutch Supreme Court, the Court of Justice of the European Union and various international courts. He specialises in corporate, commercial and financial litigation as well as arbitration. Freerk is particularly interested in cases with cross-border, international public law or human rights aspects. He is very active in the field of climate change litigation. Freerk is also a founder of the Dutch Association of Civil Supreme Court Lawyers and serves as secretary general of the European Association of Supreme Court Lawyers. https://www.nautadutilh.com/en/our-people/vermeulen-freerk/  

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CLOSING SESSION: The Way Forward: BHRLA as Compass for Navigating Change 

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Discussants:

- Rae Lindsay, Partner, Clifford Chance; Chair, BHRLA

- Douglass Cassel, Counsel, King & Spalding; Chair, BHRLA

- Meg Roggensack, Executive Officer, BHRLA

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