Axiom’s Transparency Statement on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery

Axiom is committed to conducting business in accordance with the highest standards of ethics, honesty, integrity and fair dealing. A commitment to behaving responsibly is at our core and it extends to everything we do, and to those with whom we interact.

OUR ORGANISATION AND BUSINESS
This statement is published by Axiom Global Inc (“Axiom”), in respect of itself and all of its subsidiaries including Axiom Global Limited within the Axiom group (the “Group”). The Group consists of the following legal entities:

• Axiom Global Inc
• Axiom Global Canada Inc
• Axiom Global Limited
• Axiom Global AG
• Axiom Global (Deutschland) GmbH
• Axiom Global HK Limited
• Axiom Global Solutions Pte Ltd

 

We are the global leader in high-calibre and diverse legal talent. The Group has over 2,000 employees across three continents.

The Group currently operates in the following regions: North America, Europe (including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Switzerland), and Asia Pacific (including Hong Kong and Singapore)

OUR VIEW ON MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING

We do not tolerate modern slavery or human trafficking either within our business or within our supply chains. We expect our supply chains (whether direct suppliers or those that directly or indirectly supply our direct suppliers) to share the same values.

As we provide legal services on a global basis, we have supply chains that support our business and enables us to provide these services to our clients. Our supply chains comprise a wide range of suppliers from small/medium enterprises to global corporates. For example, they include products and services from technology companies (providing us with I.T. hardware and software), maintenance service providers as well as cleaning and catering services for our offices and events.

Due to the nature of the services that we provide and the policies and procedures that we already operate, we consider ourselves to be at “low risk” risk of modern slavery or human trafficking existing within our own business. In relation to our supply chains, we continue to make little use of services demanding unskilled labour. The products and services we do consume are sourced from reputable suppliers.

We will, however, continue to remain vigilant to ensure that this remains the case and that our Supplier Code of Conduct, that sets out the high standard of ethics that we require from our suppliers and contractors worldwide, ensures our suppliers are complying with the legislation where required.

We have a dedicated Legal & Compliance function which takes compliance with anti-slavery and human trafficking measures seriously. Our Legal & Compliance function is supported by senior management across the board which advocates the message and importance on this area.

OUR POLICIES, SYSTEMS AND CONTROLS TO COMBAT SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING

We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. Our internal Anti-Slavery & Human Trafficking Policy, for example, reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains. Examples of the steps that we consider taking are as follows:

→ We expect all of our suppliers to take a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking, and to place similar expectations on their respective suppliers.

 

→ Where we have a significant supplier and/or have assessed that there is a potential high risk for modern slavery or human trafficking with a supplier, we do one or more of the following:

• We request that the supplier provide us with a copy of their modern slavery and human trafficking statement and/or internal policy;
• We share our Supplier Code of Conduct and request that the supplier review it and attest to adhering to our standards;
• We include further contractual obligations whereby the supplier is required to:
  1. confirm that it complies with all laws and regulations including that concerning combating slavery and human trafficking;
  2. warrant that its business, and to the best of its knowledge, its own supply chains do not use modern slavery or involve human trafficking;
  3. agree to provide us upon request, with written responses to a self-assessment questionnaire regarding compliance with laws and regulations including on modern slavery and human trafficking;
  4. agree to permit us and/or a third-party acting for us to inspect their facilities, records and practices, to have access to their personnel and to audit their business for the purposes of ensuring that they comply with these obligations and that there is no use of modern slavery or involvement of human trafficking; and/or
  5. impose equivalent obligations on their own suppliers as we have placed on them; and
• We have internal escalation channels whereby employees at all levels, directors, officers, agency workers, seconded workers, volunteers, interns, agents and contractors can raise concerns and report instances of potential non-compliance with our values and principles (including modern slavery), in full confidence and without fear of retaliation.

TRAINING AND AWARENESS

Training on our internal Anti-Slavery & Human Trafficking Policy forms part of our training cycle for all individuals who work within the Group. In addition, we train and update personnel working with our supply chain on modern slavery and human trafficking issues, as and when necessary, with a view to reducing the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chain. 

GOING FORWARD
We will continue to review our policies, processes and training going forward to make sure they support and further our commitment to combatting the risks of modern slavery or human trafficking in our business and our supply chains.

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the United Kingdom’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our Group’s Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery statement for the financial year ending 2020.

Approved by the Board of Axiom on September 22, 2021 and signed on its behalf by David McVeigh, CEO.