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Global Business & Human Rights

Our Global Business & Human Rights blog features nuanced discussion regarding the responsibilities of multinational companies, governments and multilateral institutions towards sustainability, with a particular focus on international human rights.

Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog August 17, 2018
Its Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: new guidance on compliance with North Korea-related sanctions laws; the release of the first annual report by the parties to the Dutch Banking Sector Agreement on International Responsible Business Conduct; and a new blog series on the zero draft of the proposed Treaty on Business and Human Rights…
Developments in International Investment Law Herald Enhanced CSR Obligations for Investors
Blog May 17, 2018
The protection of a company's investments abroad could soon be linked to that company's compliance with its CSR obligations. This is what the new Dutch draft model bilateral investment treaty (BIT) heralds. If other countries adopt the Netherlands' approach, then international arbitration tribunals hearing claims that investors bring against foreign governments may also scrutinize the investors' CSR track record. CSR obligations are most relevant to the compensation a tribunal can award……
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog November 03, 2017
Its Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: the formal withdrawal of the United States from the EITI; the passage of the Canadian Magnitsky Act; and the launch of the Investor Alliance for Human Rights. On November 2, the Government of the United States formally withdrew from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)…
Corporate Liability and the Alien Tort Statute: Highlights from the Oral Arguments in Jesner v. Arab Bank
Blog October 12, 2017
On Wednesday, October 11, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Jesner v. Arab Bank. The case may once and for all determine whether companies are appropriate defendants in cases filed pursuant to the Alien Tort Statute (ATS). In granting plaintiffs petition for a writ of certiorari, the Supreme Court agreed to review the following question: This case presents the question this Court granted certiorari to resolve…
D.C. District Court Determines that Dakota Access Environmental Assessment was Inadequate
Blog June 19, 2017
On June 14, 2017, the District Court for the District of Columbia issued a decision in Standing Rock Sioux Tribe v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Court found that the Army Corps of Engineers (“the Corps”) had not adequately considered several issues in its environmental assessment (“EA”) for the Dakota Access Pipeline, and that therefore the Corps' decision-making was arbitrary and capricious. The EA was undertaken pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”)…
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog June 16, 2017
It's Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: the announcement of a new corporate alliance intended to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace; the release of a paper by Professor John Ruggie on the development of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; and guidance from the UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights on the human rights……
Alien Tort Case Development: The U.S. Supreme Court Will Review the Question of Corporate Liability
Blog April 04, 2017
On Monday, April 3, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a petition for a writ of certiorari filed by plaintiffs in Jesner v. Arab Bank, No. 16-499. The case may once and for all determine whether companies are appropriate defendants in cases filed pursuant to the Alien Tort Statute (ATS). The petition was filed after the Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of plaintiffs' claims in five consolidated cases against Arab Bank…
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog March 10, 2017
It's Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: new reports on the U.S. National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct, corporate disclosures pursuant to the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, and shareholder proposals on social and environmental issues; the second discussion paper published by the Thun Group of Banks…
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog August 12, 2016
It's Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: a new report from the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression; reviews of the latest round of conflict minerals reports; corporate efforts to address the risks of sex and labor trafficking in connection with the Olympic Games…
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Blog Editors

ABOUT

Foley Hoag’s Global Business and Human Rights practice provides counsel to multinational companies, governments, and multilateral institutions regarding social, political, and environmental challenges.

Our advice to clients encompasses legal and reputational risk management with respect to human rights, including labor rights and the rights of indigenous peoples; the design and implementation of stakeholder engagement programs; and professional auditing services, ranging from due diligence desk-top analyses to on-the-ground human rights impact assessments and the monitoring of social, human rights, and environmental initiatives.

In addition, we provide clients with crisis management and mediation services with respect to disputes with impacted communities and stakeholder groups, ranging from indigenous peoples to non-governmental organizations.