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 2020.
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 is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all its 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 2019-20, we initiated our UK training and awareness programme. In 2020-21 we intend to take further measures to further develop our systems and controls.
- We will continue to develop our UK training and awareness programme. By the end of our current financial year we will ensure that all members of staff in our UK offices have received training on the requirements of the Act and preventing slavery and human trafficking generally.
- We will review and continue to develop our procurement procedures. In our UK offices, in addition to requiring new or existing suppliers to confirm that they will comply with the requirements of the Act and require their own suppliers to abide by the same high standards, we will require all prospective suppliers to complete a due diligence questionnaire to enhance our knowledge and understanding of their business practices.
This statement has been approved by Margaret Robertson as the chief executive officer of Withers LLP.
