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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.

As the Global Energy Transition Advances, Business Centered on Rights Remains Good Business
Blog July 28, 2025
The U.S. regulatory landscape is quickly evolving and in flux, with the Executive Branch further increasing the use of executive authority to unilaterally and rapidly transform longstanding federal practices and policies…
As Governments Push Back on Corporate Human Rights Responsibilities, Influential Stakeholders Push Forward
Blog April 28, 2025
In a blog article before the November 2024 election, our GBHR Practice discussed how the pushback on ESG will not stop the tide towards higher human rights standards for companies…
Trump Administrations Proposed Prosecution of Pipeline Opponents: Weighing Human Rights Obligations and Congressional Support
Blog July 10, 2019
The Trump Administration is using the reauthorization of a pipeline safety statute as an opening to insert new provisions that would give U.S. authorities broader latitude to thwart and criminalize the activities of protestors opposing hydrocarbon pipeline projects.  The provision would apply to both existing pipelines and those that are under construction, with at least the partial intent of targeting large-scale protests that have encircled construction of oil transport infrastructure……
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog February 16, 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: a new venture fund intended to support companies trying to increase transparency with regard to labor conditions in corporate supply chains; the launch of new principles on responsible corporate tax policy; and litigation alleging that a companys failure to disclose human rights-related risks in its supply chain in its packaging is……
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog December 08, 2017
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: a revised Toolkit on National Action Plans on business and human rights; a new automobile industry initiative to address the social and environmental risks associated with raw materials sourcing; and a report from the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights on the efforts of internet platform companies to address content that……
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog September 08, 2017
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: a new report from the U.N. Working Group on Business and Human Rights; a report evaluating corporate efforts to assess forced labor risks in sugarcane supply chains; and a revised report reviewing national action plans on business and human rights as issued by 18 countries…
Is It a Dividend? Is It a Tax? Could President Trump Care Less?
Blog June 21, 2017
This post, written by Seth Jaffe, a Partner in Foley Hoag's Environmental practice, was originally posted on the firm's Law and the Environment blog. In February, I posted about the formation of the Climate Leadership Council and its push for what it calls its “Carbon Dividend” plan.  In essence, it's a gradually increasing carbon tax.  The plan would be revenue neutral…
D.C. District Court Determines that Dakota Access Environmental Assessment was Inadequate
Blog June 19, 2017
On June 14, 2017, the District Court for the District of Columbia issued a decision in Standing Rock Sioux Tribe v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Court found that the Army Corps of Engineers (“the Corps”) had not adequately considered several issues in its environmental assessment (“EA”) for the Dakota Access Pipeline, and that therefore the Corps' decision-making was arbitrary and capricious. The EA was undertaken pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”)…
Shareholders at ExxonMobil Vote in Favor of Climate Change Reporting
Blog May 31, 2017
On May 31, shareholders at Exxon Mobil Corp. (ExxonMobil) voted in favor of a climate change resolution asking the company to publish an annual report on the business impact of measures designed to limit global temperature increases to 2 degrees centigrade, the target set by the Paris Agreement. The non-binding resolution passed with more than 62% of the votes cast. Specifically, the resolution asks that…
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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.