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 by the Board of Bird & Bird LLP on 3 November 2016. This constitutes our Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement for financial year ended 30 April 2016.

Organisation's 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, 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.

Our 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 are providing training to our staff, initially to those who have direct contact and responsibility for procurement within the firm.

Accountability

We require the firm's partners and staff, that is 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.

Further steps

Our next step is to conduct a review of the effectiveness of the steps we have taken this year to ensure that there is no slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains.

Following the review, we intend to take the following further steps to combat slavery and human trafficking:

  • Conduct an assessment to measure the effectiveness of the steps already undertaken.
  • Conduct a risk assessment of our supply chains to identify where there may be a higher risk of slavery and human trafficking.
  • Establish due diligence procedures that monitor our suppliers' compliance with the Modern Slavery Act.
  • Where appropriate, seek contractual warranties from suppliers identified as being higher risk by our risk assessment procedures, concerning their compliance with applicable laws and regulations regarding modern slavery and human trafficking.
  • Continue to provide training on the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act, where to spot risks of slavery and human trafficking and who such risks should be reported to. This will apply initially to those involved with the procurement of the firm's suppliers.


David Kerr
Chief Executive Officer
On behalf of the Board
Bird & Bird LLP

3 November 2016