This statement is made by the Withers group pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 ('the Act') and constitutes our slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 1 July 2023.
The firm
Withers LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registration number OC301149. It is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority with SRA number 352314. Withers LLP is part of a group of affiliated partnerships, offices and undertakings authorised to practice under the name ‘Withers' or ‘Withersworldwide'. The other entities in the group are Withers Bergman LLP, Withers KhattarWong LLP, Withers BVI, Withers 衛達仕, Studio Legale Associato con Withers LLP, Withers Bengoshi Houjin and Withers Gaikokuhou Jimu Bengoshi Houjin.
The Withers group has zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships. We are committed to ensuring modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our businesses or supply chains. As a group of affiliated international law firms we consider the risk of this to be low.
Withers LLP:
- requires the same high standards from all of its contractors, suppliers and other business partners and expects them to respect and share the firm's values and to hold their own suppliers to the same high standards;
- has a zero-tolerance approach to slavery and human trafficking and is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all its business dealings and relationships; and
- is committed to maintaining the highest standards by implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to prevent slavery and human trafficking entering its own business and supply chains.
This zero-tolerance approach extends beyond Withers LLP's own business and supply chains and we are committed to ensuring that the services we provide do not facilitate or assist slavery and human trafficking in any way. Our people are expected to be vigilant to this risk and are encouraged to voice any concerns openly as soon as they become aware of them under our Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking and/or Whistleblowing Policies.
During the financial year 2022-23, we reviewed our systems and controls to ensure that they are achieving their objectives. We concluded that members of staff involved in procurement are highly aware of the firm's approach and the standards we expect from all suppliers. We can say that scrutinising a prospective supplier's approach and commitment to tackling modern slavery and human trafficking is now an integral part of our supplier due diligence.
In 2023-24 our focus will be:
- To continue to review our general approach to tackling modern slavery and human trafficking to identify where improvements can be made.
- To review our UK training and awareness programme to ensure that all members of staff in our UK offices are aware of the requirements of the Act and the firm's approach to it and the prevention of slavery and human trafficking generally.
This statement has been approved by Margaret Robertson, Member and the Chief Executive Officer of Withersworldwide LLP.
