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MacRoberts Voluntary Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
MacRoberts LLP is making a voluntary modern slavery and human trafficking statement relating to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
We oppose slavery and human trafficking in all its forms and make this statement to set out the steps we have taken to ensure that there is no slavery or human trafficking in our business or in our supply chains.
About us
We are an independent, full-service commercial Scottish law firm working with clients in all key sectors of the economy. We have a broad client base of businesses, individuals and public bodies. Our annual turnover is under £36 million. Although we are not required to make a modern slavery statement under section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, we are making this voluntary statement to show our commitment to ethical trading principles and to set out the steps we are taking to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking in our business and in our supply chains.
Our supply chains are mainly made up of the following:
- IT suppliers of hardware, software, support services and telephony
- Other professional service firms such as accountants, banks and health & wellbeing consultants
- Office services such as stationery, shredding, cleaning, maintenance, security and mail
We believe that for a firm of our size, the number of suppliers we use is kept to a level where we have fostered good working relationships.
Our commitment to ethical trading and responsible business
As a leading Scottish law firm, our commitment to responsible business is one that is within the spirit of the regulations with which we need to abide.
Our responsible business policies include:
- Corporate Responsibility Policy
- Anti-bribery and Corruption Policy
- Environmental Policy
- Health and Safety Policy
- Top level commitment against the facilitation of tax evasion
- Privacy notices
We are committed to ethical trading principles and to acquiring goods and services without harm to others. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains.
Due diligence
We undertake a due diligence process for all new suppliers and sub-contractors. We have asked to see their own modern slavery statements or to positively affirm that they are not involved in slavery or human trafficking. Additionally, we have oversight arrangements and methods of supplier evaluation in place once a business relationship progresses.
As we provide legal services which are captured as part of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, we are under an obligation to carry out initial and ongoing Client Due Diligence (CDD) checks on third parties with whom we enter into agreements for the supply of services. We believe that this due diligence provides us with a deeper understanding and oversight of these parties.
We only employ agency workers through reputable employment agencies.
Risk assessment
Given the nature of our business and consequent supply chain, MacRoberts does not consider that there is a significant risk of slavery and human trafficking.
In coming to this conclusion, we have assessed the following risk types:
- Country risks – MacRoberts suppliers are almost exclusively UK based. Where this is not the case, the countries have low inherent exposure to slavery and human trafficking.
- Sector risks – the sectors in which our suppliers provide their services are generally not associated with slavery and human trafficking.
- Business partnership risks – the majority of our suppliers are long standing where we have fostered strong working relationships over the years and built up knowledge of their own working environment.
Awareness training
To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our business, we provide awareness training to all employees within the firm.
While we believe the risk of slavery and human trafficking is low, the training provided serves to highlight ‘red flags’ which may be associated with instances of slavery and human trafficking.
Internal processes
Internal processes implemented to help ensure that modern slavery is not prevalent within the firm or our supply chain is as follows:
- We ask our material suppliers for copies of their modern slavery statements, or, if it is not applicable to them, we ask them to make a positive affirmation that they are not party to it.
- We ask questions on the modern slavery as part of our annual supplier due diligence process where we ask our material suppliers to complete a questionnaire on their processes, controls and practices.
- We are a Living Wage Employer.
Management Board
This voluntary slavery and human trafficking statement is made in connection with section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, for the financial year ending 30 April 2022. It was approved by the Management Board in August 2022.