Modern Slavery Act Statement
Our Organisation
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires commercial organisations to required to publish an annual statement if certain criteria applies.
Although Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP is not required to publish this statement by law, it has decided to publish a statement nonetheless in order to recognise the importance of all commercial organisations taking steps to prevent modern slavery in their business and their supply chains.
It applies to Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP during financial year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
Organisational Structure
Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP practices from a centralised office at 107-111 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2AB, with partners also based in Bristol and Cambridge. Staff are supported to work flexibly including from home.
The firm is a limited liability partnership with four Partners who control the management of the LLP. It specialises in providing public law and human rights advice and representation to clients, focusing on the following six practice areas:
- Court of Protection
- Judicial Review
- Health and Social Care
- Education
- Human Rights
- Environmental
Services are provided throughout the year and therefore work is not seasonable. Work is wholly carried out in the United Kingdom.
Definitions
Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP considers that modern slavery encompasses:
- Human trafficking;
- Forced work, through mental or physical threat;
- Being owned or controlled by an employer through mental or physical abuse of the threat of abuse;
- Being dehumanised, treated as a commodity, or being bought or sold as property;
- Being physically constrained or to have restriction placed on freedom of movement.
Our Commitment
Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP commits to taking a robust approach to its responsibilities in relation to tackling modern slavery and complying with the provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It understands that this requires an ongoing review of both its internal practices in relation to its labour force and, additionally, its supply chains.
Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP does not enter into business with any other organisation, in the United Kingdom or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to involve itself in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.
No labour provided to Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP in the pursuance of the provision of its own services is obtained by means of slavery or human trafficking. The firm strictly adheres to the minimum standards required in relation to its responsibilities under relevant employment legislation in England & Wales, and in many cases exceeds those minimums in relation to its employees.
Our Supply Chains
In order to support our services to our client, Rook Irwin Sweeney’s main supply chains include personnel, goods, and services from various suppliers based in the United Kingdom, although some are part of global businesses.
Potential exposure and due diligence
As a law firm authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, we consider that our exposure to slavery and human trafficking within the organisation is very low. However, we recognise that there may be a risk in our supplier relationships and we ensure that appropriate due diligence is undertaken to ensure that such practices do not take place in its business nor the business of any organisation that supplies goods and/or services to it.
In particular, we take the following steps to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place:
- Assess and monitor areas of potential risk in our supplier chains
- Identify our critical suppliers and gather information in relation to their compliance with the Modern Slavery Act.
- Review our supplier contracts to include termination powers in the event that the supplier is, or is suspected to be, involved in modern slavery.
We will monitor the effectiveness of ensuring modern slavery is not taking place in our firm or its supply chains.
Training and Awareness
Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP provides training to all staff on Induction to effectively implement its stance on modern slavery including when it may occur and mechanisms for reporting. Training records will be kept to ensure all existing and new staff members are up to date, and the central register will be reviewed annually.
Modern Slavery Compliance Officer
Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP has a Slavery Compliance Officer, to whom all concerns regarding modern slavery should be addressed, and who will then undertake relevant action with regard to Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP’s obligations in this regard.
Contact Details:
Polly Sweeney, Partner – polly.sweeney@rislaw.co.uk
This statement is made in pursuance of Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and will be reviewed for each financial year.
March 2023
