Business Network

Members

The Business Network is co-chaired by Mark Gregory, General Counsel at Rolls-Royce and James Edmunds, General Counsel Corporate and Deputy Company Secretary at Diageo plc. The members include:

• Anglo American 
• BP 
• Centrica 
• Diageo 
• IMI plc 
• Rolls-Royce 
• Shell International 
• Vodafone 

Benefits of Membership

• Quarterly meetings provide a forum for members to identify and exchange learning on Rule of Law issues in their countries of operation. Priority Rule of Law issues that are regularly discussed include those related to international trade, human rights, corruption, and climate change. Discussions are confidential and with respect for competition law, enabling members to share challenges affecting their business and discuss strategies to mitigate or overcome these in confidence. Discussions at meetings inform the research agenda developed by the Bingham Centre and BIICL.

• Access to leading experts who are invited to share relevant research findings or practical tools with the members and lead Q&A sessions. These experts, both external and from within BIICL, bring new perspectives, insights and guidance on topics of relevance for business.

• Opportunities to support and contribute to research undertaken by the Bingham Centre and BIICL. Through consultations, roundtables, interviews and surveys, Business Network members work closely with BIICL's highly experienced researchers, who work across nearly all areas of law. Business Network members have participated in a number of projects, including related to conflicts between national law and international human rights standards,  the implications of a 'no deal' Brexit, and the due diligence requirements to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for human rights and environmental harms. Research has an applied focus and is designed to have a practical impact on policy-making and decision-making at all levels.

• Complimentary membership of BIICL's expert Forum:
  - Competition Law Forum, a centre of excellence for European competition and antitrust policy and law (normally costing £5,000 plus VAT per annum).
  - Investment Treaty Forum, a global platform for high-level debate and cutting-edge research in the field of international investment law (normally costing £3,200 plus VAT per annum).
  - Product Liability Forum, which enables the practical application of policy and developments in product liability and safety law to be considered by experts (normally costing £3,245 plus VAT per annum).

• Organisational membership of BIIICL, meaning you can enjoy free events, discounts on training and access to publications. Membership which would normally cost £1,650 plus VAT per annum.

• Invitations to events, including specialist business briefings, and regular updates on activities.
  

Upcoming Meetings

The Business Network meets quarterly.

Example topics of discussion within the Network have included: 1) analysis of the legislation brought by the UK government at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2) challenges with the Rule of Law in overseas jurisdictions and at home, 3) the EU mandate and incoming legislation on Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HRDD) in supply chains, 4) the effectiveness of import bans.

Research and Events

Business Network members have contributed to and benefitted from several research projects and events including:

• A joint fora event on business collaboration on ESG issues. (2025)
• Global perspectives on corporate climate legal tactics. This examines climate litigation across the corporate world leading to the production of a toolbox for the effective implementation of climate law. (2025)
• Effectiveness of forced labour import bans. This assesses the evidence base on effectiveness in light of developments in Europe and North America. (2025)
• The impacts of mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence (mHREDD) on internal corporate practice. This analysed legal models in France, Germany and the EU to inform more effective mHREDD law-making and implementation. (2024)
• The use of Artificial Intelligence in legal practice, including ethical issues that arise related to the duties of lawyers and the protection of rights. (2023)
• Unlocking investment in Ukraine, including justice and legal system reforms that will contribute to economic recovery. (2024)
• European Commission study on due diligence in supply chains, including duties to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for human rights abuses. (2020)
• A study on the legal feasibility of introducing a UK failure to prevent mechanism for corporate human rights harms. (2020)

Latest Reports

Business Network Annual Report 2025 
Business Network Annual Report 2024 
Business Network Annual Report 2023
Business Network Annual Report 2022 
Business Network Annual Report 2021 

Launch

The Bingham Centre's Business Network, initially chaired by Graham Vinter, formerly of BG Group was launched on 18 January 2017. FTSE100 leaders, BP, BT, Diageo, HSBC, Shell, Unilever, and Vodafone pledged their support as founding members of the Business Network. The event was opened by Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, The Lord Chief Justice who welcomed this new initiative and encouraged other leading global companies to get involved.

Lord Thomas noted:

'We are world leaders in business law; we are becoming world leaders in adapting our court system to operate efficiently through the use of technology. I very much hope that the benefit to all our businesses, especially those whose operations in countries where the legal systems are not as developed, really will see the benefit of change. The opportunities are amazing. Many countries look to us as leaders. It is that long-term benefit to all our international companies that we should see as a prize we cannot let go. We therefore need a body like the Bingham Centre to give coherence to the great potential I have outlined.'

He was joined on the panel by Siobhan Moriarty, Diageo Chief Counsel who stated:

'For Diageo effective rule of law provides the clarity and structure enabling us to carry on business in an environment that mitigates the risks and challenges I referred to earlier and also works for the greater good.'

You can read the full transcript of Ms Moriarty's speech here.

Guy Beringer, Co-Chair of the Bingham Development Board, brought proceedings to a close. Explaining that:

'The Bingham Business Network is essentially about corporate risk and its management. We believe that the rule of law lies at the heart of a number of uncharted and intractable areas of risk for the modern international business.'

You can read the full transcript of Guy Beringer's speech here.