“Human Rights in the Oil and Gas Trade in Switzerland – Risks and Mitigation Measures”, an article by Sandrine Giroud, Warren Martin and Anton Vallélian

LALIVE partner Sandrine Giroud and associates Warren Martin and Anton Vallélian co-authored an article on “Human Rights in the Oil and Gas Trade in Switzerland – Risks and Mitigation Measures”, published by OGEL (Oil, Gas & Energy Law Intelligence) and available here.

Business & human rights (“BHR”) is now more than a concept; it is a risk that companies must factor into their business and operation plans. Given the BHR regulations existing already at the international level, more than 80% of the economic partners of Switzerland are bound by some form of BHR obligations. From a risk perspective, the question for Swiss trading companies is accordingly not whether or not to consider BHR in their compliance programme and contracts, but how and to what extent.

This article aims to provide an overview of legal risks arising from human rights violations for companies operating in Switzerland in particular in the oil and gas sector and measures to be a step ahead and mitigate such risks. Adequate due diligence and compliance processes and contract drafting, in particular, go a long way in addressing these risks.

For more information about our BHR practice, see here.