Our commitment

Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. All types of modern slavery have in common the deprivation of a person’s liberty by another in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships, and to ensuring that modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our own business or those we engage with.

We are also committed to ensuring transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout our business relationships, consistent with our disclosure obligations under the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008, as amended by the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Act 2013. As part of this process, we have undertaken a review of our supply chain to identify and assess potential risk areas and maintain a register detailing the same.

Our suppliers and business partners

We expect high standards from all our subcontractors, suppliers, and other business partners and have made this a contractual term in our agreements with significant suppliers wherever possible.

Who this policy applies to

This policy applies to all persons working for us or on our behalf in any capacity, including employees at all levels, directors, officers, agency workers, seconded workers, interns, agents, contractors, external consultants, third-party representatives, and business partners. This policy does not form part of any employee’s contract of employment and we may amend it at any time.

Responsibility for the policy

The management of the firm has overall responsibility for ensuring this policy complies with our legal and ethical obligations and that all of our people comply with it. The legal department has primary and day-to-day responsibility for implementing this policy, while the procurement team provides assistance with reviewing the risk profile of our supply chain to ensure that any procedures implemented are effective in countering modern slavery.

Compliance with the policy

You must ensure that you read, understand, and comply with this policy. The prevention, detection, and reporting of modern slavery in any part of our business or supply chains is the responsibility of all those working for us or under our control. You are required to avoid any activity that might lead to, or suggest, a breach of this policy.

Although you should report any concerns regarding modern slavery and/or human trafficking in any part of our business or supply chains in accordance with our whistleblowing policy, you are also encouraged to discuss a specific matter (or our policy or relevant legislation) with any member of the legal department.

If you are in any doubt about whether a particular act or working conditions in any of our business relationships may contravene any aspect of this policy, then err on the side of caution and report it in accordance with the whistleblowing policy, or speak to a member of the legal department.

We encourage openness and will support anyone who raises genuine concerns in good faith in accordance with the firm’s whistleblowing policy, even if they turn out to be mistaken. We are committed to ensuring no one suffers any detrimental treatment as a result of reporting in good faith their knowledge, or suspicion, that modern slavery is taking place in any part of our business or in any of our supply chains.

Communication and awareness of this policy

Our zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery is communicated to all significant suppliers, contractors, and business partners at the outset of our business relationship with them and reinforced as appropriate thereafter.

Breaches of this policy

Any employee who breaches this policy could face disciplinary action, which could result in dismissal for misconduct or gross misconduct.

We may terminate our relationship with other individuals and organisations working on our behalf if they breach this policy.