Modern Slavery Act 2015: Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
This statement is made by Bird & Bird LLP (the "firm" or "we") under section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the "Act") and was approved and signed on behalf of the Board of Bird & Bird LLP on 5 April 2019. This constitutes our Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement for financial year ended 30 April 2018.
Organisation and structure
Bird & Bird LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC340318. Bird & Bird is an international legal practice comprising Bird & Bird LLP and its affiliates[1], operating in the jurisdictions as detailed on our website here.
We are committed to legal compliance and ethical business practices in all of our operations worldwide, this includes improving our practices to combat slavery and human trafficking. We choose suppliers and contractors who we believe share that commitment.
Risk Assessment
As a professional services firm regulated in the various jurisdictions in which we operate, and having adopted a globally applicable Ethics Policy in January 2013, we consider that that we are at low risk of modern slavery occurring within our own business. However we remain alert to the possibility, and our policy and reporting requirements cover our approach to this. There is a greater risk in our supply chain which comprises non-regulated businesses.
Our key suppliers are those required to support our global professional service business, which is office based. The key areas of spend with suppliers are IT and
Facilities Management (including catering and cleaning), with additional spend on recruitment, training & education and marketing. Global spend on suppliers is
concentrated in London, with other spend distributed across other international offices. Our aim is to foster long term relationships with our critical business suppliers, as this is key to establishing an open relationship where price is not the only driver.
Policy on slavery and human trafficking
We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. Our Anti-slavery and Human Trafficking Policy reflects our commitment to use only legal and ethical business practices and to implement and enforce effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains.
Training
To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our business, we have procured training
resources for staff with direct contact and responsibility for procurement within the firm, and the training is required for those with direct procurement responsibilities.
Accountability
We require all members, partners, employees, officers, directors and consultants of the firm, including temporary workers and others who are subject to the direction of the firm, to comply with our Anti-slavery and Human Trafficking Policy. As with all alleged violations of policy, we investigate issues and take the appropriate action up to and including termination of employment and termination of agreements for suppliers and contractors.
Progress
Bird & Bird has implemented third party supplier management tool to allow consistent due diligence on critical suppliers across a range of issues including Modern Slavery compliance. Use of the system is based on a risk analysis by sector and spend. Non conformities are flagged and followed up by the relevant budget holder.
More than 50 staff have received training on slavery and human trafficking issues, with those having procurement responsibilities being prioritised.
All London based suppliers pay their staff the London Living Wage.
Next steps
We will review the steps taken so far to identify any gaps and consider the effectiveness of our approach.
We will continue with supplier screening and a risk based approach to such suppliers following the due diligence process described above.
We will seek to expand and embed knowledge of the issues and risks around modern slavery and human trafficking to all appropriate staff across the network of offices via regular communication and targeted training.
We will include modern slavery in our ongoing operational risk review process which is conducted across our network of offices.
Signature:
David Kerr
Chief Executive Officer
On behalf of the Board
Bird & Bird LLP
Date: 5 April 2019
[1] Including Bird & Bird (Services) Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with registered number 3717269.