This course engages with the rapidly developing area of business and human rights law. It examines the State obligation to protect human rights, including from adverse impacts by business entities, and the corporate responsibility to respect human rights. It also considers the access to effective remedies by victims of corporate activities.
The course covers developments in international, regional and domestic regulation, and international standards such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. It also looks at developments in international, regional and domestic dispute resolution involving business and human rights, including with respect to claims brought against companies.
While the focus of this course is on legal issues, this area does raise policy and risk management issues, all of which have practical implications for business regulation and dispute resolution. As it draws from legal principles across a wide area of law, such as company law, public law, environmental law, financial law, criminal law, public international law, tort law, contract law, private international law and labour law, it opens up the possibility of innovative thinking and applications for business.
29 April (Thursday):
09.00-12.40
Lunch
13.30-16.40
30 April (Friday):
09.00-12.40
Lunch
13.30-17:00
Robert McCorquodale is Professor of International Law and Human Rights at the University of Nottingham, a barrister at Brick Court Chambers, London and the Founder of Inclusive Law, a consultancy on business and human rights. He was Director of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) for 10 years.
He has over 25 years of experience working in business and human rights, with a particular focus on the legal developments and business practices with respect to human rights due diligence and implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. He has advised business of all sizes, assisted governments around the world, been involved with civil society, industry and organisations in drafting legal changes and in litigation. This has included capacity building, legislative proposals and training, as well as interviewing and qualitative research.