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Global Business & Human Rights

Our Global Business & Human Rights blog features nuanced discussion regarding the responsibilities of multinational companies, governments and multilateral institutions towards sustainability, with a particular focus on international human rights.

Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog June 29, 2018
Its Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: the dismissal of a climate change lawsuit brought by the cities of San Francisco and Oakland; the launch of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights; and a new benchmarking report from Know the Chain. On June 18, Know the Chain published its second benchmarking report of information and communications technology (“ICT”) companies…
Alien Tort Case Development: Foreign Corporations Are Not Appropriate Defendants in ATS Cases
Blog April 24, 2018
On April 24, the U.S. Supreme Court held that plaintiffs may not bring claims against corporations domiciled outside the United States in Alien Tort Statute (ATS) cases. In the years following the Supreme Courts 2013 decision in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, courts have made clear that filing suit against a U.S.-domiciled company is not sufficient for plaintiffs to be able to overcome the presumption against extraterritoriality that is applicable to ATS litigation…
Alien Tort Case Development: District Court Allows Plaintiffs to Proceed in Al Shimari v. CACI
Blog March 26, 2018
For Alien Tort-watchers, all eyes are focused on the Supreme Court and the pending decision in Jesner v. Arab Bank, which may determine that corporations are not appropriate defendants in cases brought pursuant to the Alien Tort Statute (ATS). In the interim, in a decision released on February 21, the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has allowed plaintiffs to proceed with their ATS case against U.S…
Corporate Liability and the Alien Tort Statute: Highlights from the Oral Arguments in Jesner v. Arab Bank
Blog October 12, 2017
On Wednesday, October 11, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Jesner v. Arab Bank. The case may once and for all determine whether companies are appropriate defendants in cases filed pursuant to the Alien Tort Statute (ATS). In granting plaintiffs petition for a writ of certiorari, the Supreme Court agreed to review the following question: This case presents the question this Court granted certiorari to resolve…
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog July 14, 2017
It's Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: the U.S. Governments amicus brief in Jesner v. Arab Bank; a Declaration from the Leaders of the G20; and a commitment to renew the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh. On June 27, the U.S…
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog June 30, 2017
It's Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: a new report on human rights litigation in U.S. federal courts; new guidelines on the E.U. directive on non-financial reporting; and the release of the U.S. State Departments 2017 Trafficking in Persons report. On June 8, U.S. Customs and Border Protection published a final rule in the Federal Register amending existing customs……
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog April 07, 2017
It's Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: an effort by Twitter to enjoin U.S. Government demands for information regarding a user account critical of the Trump Administration; an announcement that seven telecommunications companies have joined the Global Network Initiative; and a decision by EITI to make project-level payment reporting mandatory…
Alien Tort Case Development: The U.S. Supreme Court Will Review the Question of Corporate Liability
Blog April 04, 2017
On Monday, April 3, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a petition for a writ of certiorari filed by plaintiffs in Jesner v. Arab Bank, No. 16-499. The case may once and for all determine whether companies are appropriate defendants in cases filed pursuant to the Alien Tort Statute (ATS). The petition was filed after the Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of plaintiffs' claims in five consolidated cases against Arab Bank…
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog March 24, 2017
It's Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: the European Parliaments adoption of a new conflict minerals regulation; the French Constitutional Councils review of the proposed duty of vigilance legislation; the dismissal of the Doe v. Nestle litigation; and the release of a new Corporate Accountability Index by Ranking Digital Rights…
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ABOUT

Foley Hoag’s Global Business and Human Rights practice provides counsel to multinational companies, governments, and multilateral institutions regarding social, political, and environmental challenges.

Our advice to clients encompasses legal and reputational risk management with respect to human rights, including labor rights and the rights of indigenous peoples; the design and implementation of stakeholder engagement programs; and professional auditing services, ranging from due diligence desk-top analyses to on-the-ground human rights impact assessments and the monitoring of social, human rights, and environmental initiatives.

In addition, we provide clients with crisis management and mediation services with respect to disputes with impacted communities and stakeholder groups, ranging from indigenous peoples to non-governmental organizations.