Human Rights Litigation against Multinationals in Practice

Edited by Richard Meeran and Jahan Meeran

A thorough and practical review of multinational human rights litigation in the key jurisdictions where cases have been run
The volume editor and contributors comprise a group of highly experienced legal practitioners who understand the opportunities, hurdles, and strategic issues that arise in practice
Addresses cases relating to environmental damage, occupational disease, human rights abuses involving complicity with state security, and in the context of supply chains
Chapters cover litigation in the UK, South Africa, Canada, Australia, the US, the Netherlands, France, and Germany

Human Rights Litigation against Multinationals in Practice

Edited by Richard Meeran and Jahan Meeran

Description

This book provides a thorough review of multinational human rights litigation in various countries where such litigation has been pursued, predominantly on behalf of victims in the Global South. It covers cases relating to environmental damage, occupational disease, human rights abuses involving complicity with state security, and in the context of supply chains. The volume is edited by Richard Meeran, who pioneered the first series of tort-based multinational parent company cases in the 1990s and whose firm, Leigh Day, has been at the forefront of this area for almost 30 years. Contributions come from highly experienced legal practitioners in the countries in question who have run many of the key ground-breaking cases, and who understand the opportunities and hurdles that arise in practice. They provide their perspectives and insights into the features of the relevant laws, procedures, and practical considerations in their respective legal systems. Chapters address the potential legal remedies that are available; the legal, procedural, and practical obstacles to justice including funding; as well as strategic issues. This developing area of corporate legal accountability has increasingly become an integral part of the field of business and human rights, which has grown significantly in recent decades. This collection is an essential guide to the field.

Human Rights Litigation against Multinationals in Practice

Edited by Richard Meeran and Jahan Meeran

1:The Litigation Landscape of Business and Human Rights, Robert McCorquodale
2:Perspectives on the Development and Significance of Tort Litigation against Multinational Parent Companies, Richard Meeran
3:Human Rights Litigation against Multinationals in Practice - Lessons from the United Kingdom, Daniel Leader
4:Multinational Company Litigation - South Africa, Jason Brickhill and Zanele Mbuyisa
5:Liability of Multinational Corporations in Canada for International Human Rights Violations, Bruce Johnston
6:Civil Liability in Australia for International Human Rights Violations, Peter Cashman
7:International Human Rights Litigation in the United States, Paul Hoffman
8:Foreign Direct Liability of Multinational Corporations in the Dutch Legal Order, Channa Samkalden
9:Human Rights Litigation against Multinational Companies in France, Sandra Cossart and Lucie Chatelain
10:Human Rights Litigation against Multinational Companies in Germany, Miriam Saage-Maaß
11:Multinational Human Rights Litigation from the Perspective of Business, Rae Lindsay
12:Litigation Funding: Practical Aspects, Susan Dunn and Felix Curtis

Human Rights Litigation against Multinationals in Practice

Edited by Richard Meeran and Jahan Meeran

Author Information

Edited by Richard Meeran, Partner and Head of the International Department, Leigh Day, and Jahan Meeran

Richard Meeran is a Partner and Head of the International Department at Leigh Day. He was admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 1988, and has practised in the field of multinational human rights litigation, representing victims, almost exclusively since 1994. During the 1990s, Richard pioneered the original cases based on parent company tort law duty of care. He has been a speaker at numerous international events on Business and Human Rights, including the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, the open ended intergovernmental working group on a legally binding instrument, the UN Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, the OECD, and UNICEF. He gave evidence to the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Human Rights, and was a member of the drafting team of The Hague Rules on Business and Human Rights Arbitration. He has published over 60 articles on multinational litigation.

Contributors:

Jason Brickhill, Doctoral candidate and tutor, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford; Advocate, Johannesburg Bar; Honorary Research Associate, University of Cape Town

Peter Cashman, Barrister; Adjunct Professor of Law, University of New South Wales

Lucie Chatelain, Advocacy and Litigation Officer, Sherpa

Sandra Cossart, Executive Director, Sherpa

Felix Curtis, Trainee Solicitor, Harbour Litigation Funding

Susan Dunn, Founder, Harbour Litigation Funding

Paul Hoffman, Partner, Schonbrun Seplow Harris Hoffman & Zeldes LLP

Bruce Johnston, Founding Partner, Trudel Johnston & Lespérance

Daniel Leader, Partner, Leigh Day

Rae Lindsay, Partner, Clifford Chance LLP

Zanele Mbuyisa, Director, Mbuyisa Moleele Attorneys

Robert McCorquodale, Professor of International Law and Human Rights, University of Nottingham; Barrister and Mediator at Brick Court Chambers London; Founder of Inclusive Law

Richard Meeran, Partner and Head of International Department, Leigh Day

Miriam Saage-Maaß, Vice Legal Director/Director Business Human Rights Programme, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights

Channa Samkalden, Partner, Prakken d' Oliveira Human Rights Lawyers