Organisational structure
The Firm is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA ID:557188). The firm practices from its London office and employs approximately 450 people providing a wide range of legal services to its clients.
The Firm is committed to the highest standards of ethical behaviour and complies with all laws, regulations and rules applicable to its business. While the Firm considers that the nature of our business means that its operations represent a relatively low risk in relation to modern slavery or human trafficking it recognises that it must play its part in the fight against slavery and trafficking by being diligent in relationships with the businesses in its supply chain.
Supply Chain
The Firm's supply chain is focused around human resources, facilities management, hospitality and catering and other professional services that facilitate the provision of legal services, such as barristers, accountants and IT software providers. Many of the arrangements with suppliers are longstanding and reviewed periodically. Others are for short duration on as needs basis, but all arrangements go through the procurement process.
Organisation policies
The Firm has implemented a Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy which sets out the Firm's stance in relation to modern slavery and human trafficking and its processes and procedures for minimising the risk of slavery and human trafficking in its own work force and supply chains.
This policy is supported by our Whistleblowing policy which encourages employees to raise concerns to it, including in relation to modern slavery issues, as soon as possible and to feel safe in doing so.
Due Diligence
The Firm operates a procurement and supplier due diligence process that requires prospective suppliers to demonstrate their compliance with the Act, as well as other laws and regulations and supply chain management best practice generally. As part of this process, suppliers are required to complete a supplier questionnaire, confirming their approach to managing modern slavery and human trafficking risks, along with details of their business operations, governance arrangements and compliance framework. The information obtained is assessed to determine the supplier’s suitability for engagement and to identify potential modern slavery risks within the Firm’s supply chain. The Firm has also established a Supplier Code of Conduct which suppliers are required to sign up to. It ensures that the businesses in its supply chain understand that they are expected to meet the exacting and moral and ethical standards that the firm demands of itself.
Assessing and managing risk
The Firm has identified its highest risk area within its supply chain as those involving the procurement of goods and services in industries which are known for poor rates of pay. Based on a review of our supply contracts these would include office cleaning services and hospitality and catering services. To identify and mitigate modern slavery risks business owners are asked to carry out desk-based research on the prospective suppliers and the supplier questionnaires are assessed and evaluated and any responses raising concerns are followed up. Conversations also take place with any suppliers who find themselves unable to sign up to the Supplier Code of Conduct in full.
Training
The Firm understands that training is an essential tool in combatting modern slavery and is committed to ensuring that all staff remain vigilant and that those with procurement roles fulfil them responsibly.
Partners and staff involved in procurement are required to undertake training via the Firm's e-learning provider. Responsibility for communicating significant developments within the legislation lies with the Risk and Compliance function.
Monitoring and evaluation
The Firm is committed to continually improving our practices to help prevent modern slavery and human trafficking within its business and supply chains and to maintaining compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
The Firm monitors its operations and supplier relationships on an ongoing basis to identify and address potential modern slavery risks, and regularly review the effectiveness of its policies, procedures and due diligence processes.
Since its last statement the Firm has:
- Reviewed the UK Home Office Transparency in Supply Chains Statutory Guidance dated March 2025 and incorporated it into its statement
- Reviewed and refreshed its procurement process including the questions and confirmations aimed at ensuring that suppliers can confirm their adherence to both the legislation and its Suppliers Code of Conduct
- Circulated the current Modern Slavery Statement to all partners and staff as mandatory reading
Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the Director of Risk and Compliance to ensure adherence to the Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy.
Download our signed statement
