Perkins Coie is the first Am Law 100 law firm to develop a dedicated practice addressing supply chain and corporate social responsibility (CSR) compliance. With an experienced team of compliance leaders, experts, and investigators, we stand ready to help clients find commonsense solutions to emerging compliance challenges and take advantage of sustainability as well as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) opportunities.
Publications
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02.16.2022Eight Ways Businesses Can Stop Child Labor in Their Supply ChainsArticlesFor the first time since 2000, child labor is on the rise, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). A staggering 160 million children were victims of forced labor in 2020.
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01.21.2022The Compliance Suite: Tools to Reduce Supply-Chain RiskArticlesNever before have companies been exposed to risk from their supply chains like they are today. Modern production chains are made up of complicated, expansive supply streams that reach across dynamic legal and regulatory environments.
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12.2021Assessing ESG Risks for Businesses in the COVID-19 EraArticlesCOVID-19 disrupted business operations, supply chains, and economies around the globe. In response, businesses had to respond to multiple crises throughout their operations. Companies sought to make good choices concerning procurement, logistics, HR, and go-forward strategies.
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06.25.2021Supply Chain Compliance: Products From ChinaUpdatesThere has been much attention focused on Beijing’s labor policies and practices toward the Uyghur Muslim population and other minority groups in China. Given that the western Xinjiang region is responsible for approximately one-fifth of the world’s cotton supply, many industry players are finding compliance issues a challenge.
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10.13.2020Stuffing the Holiday Stockings with Two Handy Supply Chain Disclosure Charts ... and One Top Five Mistakes List!Updates
[Warning: The juxtaposition of joyous holiday festivities and forced labor is not intended to make light of human rights violations, but to assist companies in avoiding common mistakes in their anti-human trafficking disclosure statements.]
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07.09.2020Tackling Enhanced Supply Chain and Forced Labor Risks During the Time of COVID-19UpdatesThe positive economic value of environmentally sustainable supply chain practices is broadly understood and accepted by the outdoor industry.
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03.27.2020Responding to COVID-19 Requires an Integrated ApproachUpdatesRecognizing the high volume of COVID-19 content being published, Perkins Coie developed a one-stop, integrated resource page that addresses key legal and business considerations for companies across essential business areas, from insurance coverage and labor and employment, to privacy and security, corporate governance, tax, construction, supply chain, and more.
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04.03.2019Understanding the UK’s Impending “Name and Shame” Approach for Ridding Supply Chains of Forced LaborUpdatesThe U.K. Modern Slavery Act of 2015, which was modeled after the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, requires companies falling under its jurisdictional hook (and there are many) to honestly and completely disclose their efforts to eradicate trafficked, slave, indentured, coerced and child (collectively “forced”) labor from their supply chains.
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12.19.2017We Trust Santa’s Factory Is Free of Forced Labor and Corruption—Your Supply Chains Should Be Too.UpdatesImagine the public relations nightmare poor Santa Claus would face if forced labor or corruption was found in his factory.
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06.09.2017Court Opinion on Liability for Re-Exports to Iran Spurs Practical Guidance for U.S. ExportersUpdatesA recent federal appeals court decision addresses a familiar issue for many companies: When can a U.S. exporter be liable for a product that is re-exported to a sanctioned country, such as Iran?
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11.28.2016Don’t Let Forced Labor and Bribery in Your Supply Chain Spoil the HolidaysUpdates
The holiday retail season is an ideal time to check that forced labor and bribery—two top and interconnected supply-chain threats—do not undermine the success of your critical sales period.
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03.03.2016New Law Increases Scrutiny for Importing Goods Made with Forced LaborUpdatesThe federal government took another step in the fight against human trafficking and forced labor. President Obama signed into law on February 24, 2016, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (TFTEA).
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02.08.2016The Emerging Compliance 'Hot Topic' for 2016: Regulations Regarding Trafficked, Coerced LaborArticlesIn many businesses, supply chain management historically has fallen outside the core of the company's compliance function. But that was then.
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11.2015Human Trafficking Laws Impacting BusinessesSupply Chain Practice Co-Chairs Funk and Hirose’s chart compares human trafficking laws impacting businesses.
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10.02.2015Significant Questions Remain Regarding Application Of Human Trafficking Rules for Federal ContractorsArticlesThis article, written by partners Hartmann Young and T. Markus Funk, examines the application of recent federal human trafficking rules for federal contractors.
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08.10.2015Doing Business in the U.K.? Modern Slavery Act £36M Threshold IssuedUpdatesCompanies doing business in the United Kingdom take note: the U.K. government just made the not-so-long-awaited announcement that businesses with an annual turnover of 36 million British pounds (£36M) will be subject to the reporting requirements of the U.K. Modern Slavery Act of 2015 (U.K. Act).
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07.2015/08.2015Developing a CSR Supply Chain Compliance ProgramArticles
Practical Law
This article examines issues a company should consider when, designing a CSR program; drafting CSR program documents; implementing a CSR program and enforcing a CSR program. -
05.27.2015A New Compliance Challenge for Companies Doing Any Business in U.K.Articles
This article, written by partner T. Markus Funk, senior counsel Paul Hirose and associate Elizabeth Breakstone, examines the U.K. Modern Slavery Act of 2015 and how it will affect companies doing business in the U.K.
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03.2015Developing a CSR Supply Chain Compliance ProgramArticles
Practical Law
A Practice Note describing key points to consider when developing and implementing a corporate social responsibility (CSR) supply chain compliance program. -
01.30.2015
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10.25.2012Perils of the Global Supply Chain, Part 2: Supply Chain Responsibility, Or Else.UpdatesWhether “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR) is a new phrase to your company or is something you have observed and worked on for years, these are perilous times indeed for companies with large, complex, global supply chains.
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09.26.2012Want a Federal Government Contract? Now You Must Join the Fight Against Human TraffickingUpdatesOn September 25, 2012, President Obama signed a groundbreaking Executive Order designed to strengthen protections against trafficking in persons in federal contracting.
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09.05.2012SEC Adopts Conflict Mineral Disclosure RulesUpdatesThe Securities and Exchange Commission recently adopted final disclosure and reporting rules as mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requiring certain public companies to disclose on a new Form SD their use of conflict minerals originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the DRC) or an adjoining country.
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08.28.2012Cabou and Funk in on Final SEC Conflict Minerals RulesArticles
Law360
Whatever one’s position on the public policy wisdom of the announced final rules, it is now clear that auditing complex supply chains and vetting difficult-to-control vendors, often located worlds away, has become the new corporate imperative. In the morning hours of Aug. 22, the Commission held its highly anticipated public meeting to announce its final Conflict Minerals Rules pursuant to Dodd-Frank Section 1502. Perkins Coie Partners Jean-Jacques Cabou and T. Markus Funk deconstruct the complex new rules, and provide practical "what next" advice for potentially impacted businesses. -
06.27.2012Perils of the Global Supply Chain Series – Part 1UpdatesThose working in today's in-house law departments or supervising global supply chains and third-party business partners have become sensitive to the significant dangers posed by not complying with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). The well-publicized recent events surrounding Wal-Mart's FCPA woes have only raised already-elevated anxiety levels.
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06.12.2012Dodd-Frank ‘Conflict Minerals’ Rules: Simple Steps to Stay AheadArticles
Westlaw Journal: White Collar Crime
Partners Jean-Jacques "J" Cabou, Jason Day, and T. Markus Funk examine the SEC's pending "conflict minerals" rules. The authors provide a useful flow chart illustrating the proposed rules' logic and flow, and offer specific suggestions for how companies can get ahead of the curve and gauge what impact the anticipated rules are likely to have on their operations and compliance functions. -
06.12.2012Expansive New Washington State Law Threatening On-line Service Providers With Criminal Liability Enacted, Now EnjoinedUpdatesEarlier this year, Washington state legislators unanimously passed the nation's first criminal law requiring age verification for commercial sexual services advertisements depicting minors. The landmark law's goals are laudable, but its broad reach has some on-line service providers and traditional publishers concerned. For example, on-line service providers that allow users to post content and images on their sites, including on social networking sites, dating sites, discussion forums, blogs and chat rooms, could now face criminal exposure, even if they have absolutely no interest in placing, or permitting the placement of, such ads.
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05.18.2012Bloomberg BNA Publishes Funk's Article on Forced Labor and Supply Chain ComplianceArticlesT. Markus Funk's article, "Marketing Opportunity to Business Imperative: How Yesterday's 'Dolphin-Safe' Tuna Became Today's Child, Human Trafficking, and Slave Labor-Free Product," examines what companies can do to comply with the landmark California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, as well as its pending federal analog.
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04.10.2012Alert: Apple's Supply Chain Fair Labor ReportUpdatesIn the wake of the recent negative publicity deluge, including a segment on a national newsmagazine show, alleging labor violations including the use of child labor, safety violations and unfair pay practices, late last week Apple released a third-party report detailing problems and proposed solutions at one of its largest suppliers.
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03.12.2012California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010: Are You in Compliance?UpdatesThe California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 went into effect January 1, 2012. The Act requires retail sellers and manufacturers to disclose what efforts, if any, they are taking to eliminate forced labor and human trafficking from their supply chains.
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03.06.2012Preparing for the Next Compliance Battleground: Eliminating Trafficking, Forced Labor, Child Labor, and Slavery from Global Supply ChainsArticles
Bloomberg Law Reports
As this article discusses, a fresh wave of legislation designed to foster and promote what its backers alternatively describe as responsible corporate citizenship or corporate social responsibility is cresting on U.S. businesses’ shores - and this time the aim is to combat the world’s most serious forms of labor exploitation. The requirements of substantial due diligence and disclosures, and the corresponding threat of negative publicity, shareholder and consumer protests and boycotts, and Federal Trade Commission Action for insufficient compliance, are all reasons that the vetting of global supply chains for evidence of human trafficking, forced labor, slavery, and child labor is current hot topic in corporate boardrooms and compliance offices. -
02.24.2012Funk Deconstructs California Transparency in Supply Chains Act Using Flow ChartArticlesA fresh wave of legislation designed to foster and promote what its backers describe as responsible corporate citizenship/corporate social responsibility is cresting on US businesses shores—and this time the aim is to combat the world’s most serious forms of labor exploitation. Effective January 1, 2012, the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act requires qualifying companies to detail and publicly disclose the nature and scope of their efforts to eradicate human trafficking, slavery, child labor, and forced labor from their worldwide supply chains. This flow chart deconstructs the logic and flow of the California Act's detailed disclosure requirements.
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01.06.2012Child Exploitation and Trafficking: Examining the Global Challenges and U.S. ResponsesLawyer Publications
Rowman & Littlefield
Each year, more than two million children around the world fall victim to commercial exploitation. The numbers of children abused for non-commercial purposes are even higher. Put simply, the growing, increasingly-organized epidemic of child exploitation demands a coordinated response. The aim of this book is to bring some fresh thinking to this complicated area of the law, and to help erase some of its counterproductive mythology.
Presentations
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2024The Compliance Collective Webinar SeriesWebinarsPerkins Coie WebinarsThe webinar series will be hosted by a team of cross-disciplinary Perkins Coie lawyers providing a monthly overview and discussion forum on a critical hot topic in ethics and compliance.
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06.20.2024
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05.16.2024
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09.17.2020Fighting Forced Labor and Human Trafficking in the Supply ChainSpeaking EngagementsIntegrity Risk’s Roundtable / Online Event
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07.16.2020
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04.28.2017PwC’s Forensics Roundtable Focusing on Human Trafficking: Forced Labor Supply Chain RisksSpeaking EngagementsBelo Mansion / Dallas, TX
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04.24.2017New York University Second Edition Book Launch and DiscussionSpeaking EngagementsNYU School of Law / New York, NY
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05.16.2016Air Toxics SeminarSeminarsAssociated Oregon Industries / Portland, OROn May 16, 2016 Perkins Coie and Associated Oregon Industries welcomed AOI members and other interested parties to a seminar/webinar presentation addressing questions and issues arising from DEQ's recent announcement to investigate sources that may emit metals.
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06.23.2015The New Reality of Supply Chain ComplianceSpeaking EngagementsAre you a manufacturer or supplier of goods or services? Does your company or client source goods or parts from others? From overseas? Learn how to recognize and navigate around the legal landmines posed by various new compliance challenges.