This statement is made by and on behalf of Baker Botts (UK) LLP pursuant to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps that we have taken and we are continuing to take to ensure that modern slavery or human trafficking does not take place within our business or supply chain.

Our Organisational Structure

Baker Botts L.L.P. operates as a limited liability partnership worldwide, with the practice in England and Wales conducted by an affiliated limited liability multinational partnership, Baker Botts (UK) LLP, which is formed under the laws of England and Wales, incorporated under registration number OC333302, and authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with registration number 472037. Subsequent references to Baker Botts, the firm, we, or us, refer to the UK LLP.

Our Policy

We are a law firm, and we comply with all laws, rules and regulations that apply to the business, and to all individuals within the business. We expect the same standards from those with whom we work.

We are committed to a zero-tolerance policy to human trafficking and slavery and we will not knowingly use, or allow the use of, forced or compulsory labour, slavery, or human trafficking in the course of the firm’s business or on the part of any of our suppliers or other third party organisations with whom we work.

Responsibility

Ultimate responsibility for compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the Act) rests with the members of the firm. The risk management and compliance function within the firm has responsibility to ensure that this policy is adhered to at all times, and that any concerns or breaches of the firm’s internal standards or the law are managed.

We operate a number of internal policies that are relevant:

• Anti-Modern slavery policy;
• Compliance policies - designed to ensure that we act in an ethical manner;
• Recruitment policy - relating to equality, diversity and inclusion values and recruitment; which requires us to conduct enquiries to ensure that all members and employees of the business can legally work in the United Kingdom;
• Whistleblowing and notification policy - so that all members and employees can raise any concerns without fear of consequent reprisal or victimisation; and
• Outsourcer vetting and monitoring procedure.

Third Party Due Diligence

We are committed to ensuring that we do not have a relationship with any individual, or any organisations that may be contravening the Act. We carry out checks on third parties and we are continuing to review our outsourcing and procurement processes to introduce targeted measures to ensure that all those with whom we have dealings are complying with the Act.

Going forward, we will require third parties to confirm the following:

• They have taken steps to eradicate modern slavery within their organization;
• They similarly vet their own suppliers;
• For UK-based third parties, that they pay their employees at least the national minimum wage or the national living wage, as appropriate; and
• For international third parties, that they pay their employees any prevailing minimum wage applicable in the relevant jurisdiction of operation.

Further Steps

In addition to continuing to review our outsourcing and procurement processes, we are working on identifying training needs in different sections of the firm and training on the Act is available to all members and staff.

Approval of Statement

This statement has been approved by the members of the firm on 18 June 2020.

Member: Mark Rowley

Signature:

 

 

 

Date: 18 June 2020