---
title: "Startup Stories: Business and Human Rights Lawyers Association"
id: "55296"
type: "post"
slug: "startup-stories-business-and-human-rights-lawyers-association"
published_at: "2022-12-16T22:45:00+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-17T15:24:49+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/12/16/startup-stories-business-and-human-rights-lawyers-association/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/12/16/startup-stories-business-and-human-rights-lawyers-association.md"
excerpt: "New associations launch to fill a void in their sector. Here, the Business and Human Rights Lawyers Association tells us what got them started, how they’re succeeding, and what they plan to do next."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Ethics"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "Business"
  - "human rights"
  - "law firms"
  - "professional tips"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Association CEO / Executive Director"
  - "Director"
  - "Executive Team"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Industry Professionals"
---

[Home](https://associationsnow.com/)
 » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/)
 » Startup Stories: Business and Human Rights Lawyers Association

**Starting point.**The Business and Human Rights Lawyers Association was recently launched by 22 global law firms to advance business and human rights leadership, learning, collaboration, and practice among commercial law firms and business lawyers around the world.

“The formation of this association is both timely and overdue,” said BHRLA Co-Chair Rae Lindsay [in a press release (opens in a new tab)](https://www.bhrla.org/statement)
. “There is a need to accelerate the dissemination of good practice in the field of business and human rights across the commercial legal profession globally.”

**Early work.** The group will promote awareness in the business and legal communities of the responsibility to respect human rights, and of the responsibility of lawyers to incorporate business and human-rights advice in their client services in a manner consistent with their professional responsibilities.

“The formation of the Association reflects a commitment by 22 of the world’s leading law firms to ensure topflight legal advice to companies on the crucial matters of business and human rights,” said BHRLA Co-Chair Douglass Cassel.

**Next steps.** BHRLA plans to start offering educational and engagement activities, including seminars, publications, conferences, and sharing of best practices.

Moving forward, BHRLA will also seek to expand its membership and global footprint and to include individual lawyers and lawyers who practice in other settings.

(Kanizphoto/iStock/Getty Images)

[Samantha Whitehorne](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/)

Samantha Whitehorne is a former editorial director of Associations Now in Washington, DC.

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/)

Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/)
 [#human rights](https://associationsnow.com/tag/human-rights/)
 [#law firms](https://associationsnow.com/tag/law-firms/)
 [#professional tips](https://associationsnow.com/tag/professional-tips/)

**Stay Informed**

[Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/)
, *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day.

## You Might Like

- [VideoASAE Ethics Committee — George Breeden and Bob Skelton — IntroductionDecember 23, 2013](https://associationsnow.com/2013/12/23/asae-ethics-committee-george-breeden-and-bob-skelton-introduction/)
- [TemplateMembers onlyConflict of Interest Disclosure StatementSeptember 18, 2008](https://associationsnow.com/2008/09/18/conflict-of-interest-disclosure-statement/)
- [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/)
- [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: All for the Love of Chicago: Rethinking the Destination ExperienceSeptember 10, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/10/associations-now-presents-all-for-the-love-of-chicago-rethinking-the-destination-experience/)

## Comments

**Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/)

[Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2022%2F12%2F16%2Fstartup-stories-business-and-human-rights-lawyers-association%2F%23comments)
 to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/)
!