A corporation's human rights footprint spans its global operations and supply chains, with direct implications on its reputation, brand, social license to operate, resilience management and financial performance. Fasken’s Business and Human Rights (BHR) group supports corporations in designing and implementing responsible business conduct strategies and complying with evolving regulatory requirements.
Supporting Responsible and Compliant Global Operations
The expectations surrounding BHR are increasingly focused on corporate human rights conduct and have become multi-layered, spanning responsible business conduct, regulatory reporting, mandatory due diligence and import ban requirements. Governments and stakeholders – including investors, consumers, employees and citizens – actively evaluate corporate performance against the backdrop of these contemporary human rights markers.
What You Can Expect from Fasken
- Strategic legal advice grounded in international and domestic human rights law
- Support with mandatory reporting and compliance under Canadian and global regimes
- Human rights risk assessments, due diligence frameworks, and impact evaluations
- Investigation, remediation, and crisis response capabilities
- Education across all aspects of BHR and responsible business conduct, including voluntary measures, mandatory requirements, global supply chains (including forced and child labour issues), and evolving trends and patterns
- Guidance on navigating human rights standards and obligations with clarity and strategic foresight
- Integrated advisory support with Fasken’s ESG and sustainability, labour and employment, regulatory, and litigation practices
Who We Serve
Multinational Companies (with or without Global Supply Chains) — corporations managing obligations in high-risk jurisdictions or multiple markets rely on us to assess risk, meet reporting requirements and strengthen responsible business conduct systems.
Canadian Companies Expanding Internationally — We support businesses navigating heightened human rights scrutiny, foreign legislation, and cross‑border regulatory demands.
Investors and Financial Institutions — We assist with ESG‑aligned investment strategies, portfolio diligence, and responsible investment frameworks.
Boards and Executive Leadership — We help leadership teams understand their obligations, manage reputational and regulatory risk, and make informed decisions that stand up to stakeholder expectations.
Types of Matters We Handle
- Human rights due diligence and impact assessments
- Supply chain risk audits and transparency compliance
- Advice on legal exposure for boards, officers, and corporate groups
- Design and implementation of grievance mechanisms and remediation pathways
- Stakeholder and community engagement strategies
- Defence against claims alleging human rights violations abroad
- Policy development, training programs, and integration of global standards (UNGPs, OECD Guidelines)
- Alignment with Canadian supply chain legislation, European human rights directives, and global regulatory frameworks
What Success Looks Like
Global Mining Client: Advised on compliance with Canada’s forced‑labour import restrictions and alignment with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
Consumer Goods Company: Developed a human rights due diligence framework to comply with new Canadian and European reporting requirements.
Multinational Tech Firm: Guided internal investigations and remediation efforts following allegations of labour rights violations by a third‑party supplier network.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Business & Human Rights law?
A: It is a legal practice focused on helping companies respect human rights in their operations, and activities, including supply chains, in line with international standards, emerging regulatory requirements and evolving corporate practices.
Q: Why is this relevant to my business?
A: Human rights performance is increasingly tied to legal compliance, investor pressure and reputational and brand risk. The social license to operate is closely tied to the human rights footprint of any corporation. Proactive governance protects both brand and value.
Q: Which industries are most affected?
A: Mining, manufacturing, tech, retail, energy, and finance, especially those with global supply chains or operations in high‑risk jurisdictions.
Q: How does Fasken support compliance?
A: We provide risk assessments, compliance frameworks, investigation support, governance tools, and litigation defence tailored to your organization.
Your Team at Fasken
Fasken is the only firm ranked Band 1 in Business & Human Rights by Chambers Canada. Our Business & Human Rights (BHR) practice plays a leading role in shaping the Canadian corporate human rights landscape. Clients rely on our domestic and international capabilities to assist in the design and implementation of an effective approach to all aspects of BHR and responsible business conduct, strengthening their reputation and brand.
