Fasken (Brian Burkett, Claudia Feldkamp, and Christopher Pigott) is proud to have been selected as the editor of the inaugural edition of the Chambers Global 2025 Practice Guide: Business & Human Rights (BHR) ("the Guide"). In addition, Claudia Feldkamp and Christopher Pigott authored the Canadian chapter, contributing both the Law and Practice, and Trends and Developments sections of this new Chambers Global publication.
The Guide provides timely legal commentary and updates on international treaties and conventions, covering topics such as corporate human rights due diligence, modern slavery legislation, transparency and reporting obligations, corporate liability, stakeholder engagement, and best practice recommendations across multiple jurisdictions.
The Canadian chapter of the Guide explores the country’s ongoing shift from a historically voluntary, policy-based approach to a more structured legal framework that prioritizes transparency, due diligence, and accountability across global supply chains. The chapter highlights how Canada’s evolving BHR landscape is being shaped by international standards, domestic legal reforms, and growing stakeholder expectations. Key developments include:
- the introduction of supply chain transparency laws and a move toward mandatory human rights due diligence;
- expanding corporate liability, with companies and directors facing increasing civil and regulatory exposure for human rights abuses abroad;
- heightened enforcement trends, including new laws and import restrictions targeting goods linked to forced labour; and
- a growing emphasis on best practices, encouraging Canadian businesses to adopt due diligence and ESG standards aligned with international norms.
Fasken has been at the forefront of the evolving BHR landscape since the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in 2011, drawing on cross-disciplinary experience to guide clients through complex global standards. Recognized by Chambers Canada as the only top-tier (Band 1) firm in BHR law, Fasken remains a trusted advisor amid shifting legal and political dynamics.
