Modern Slavery Statement

Ghothane Lawyers is committed to combating modern slavery in all its forms, including human trafficking, forced labour, and exploitation, in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth). We are dedicated to acting ethically and with integrity in all business relationships, and we take steps to ensure that modern slavery is not occurring within our firm or our supply chains.

Our Commitment

Modern slavery is a serious violation of human rights and refers to situations where coercion, threats, or deception are used to exploit people and undermine their freedom. At Ghothane Lawyers, we have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and are committed to operating responsibly and transparently to ensure that modern slavery practices are not present in our business operations or those of our suppliers.

Our Business and Supply Chains

Ghothane Lawyers provides legal services to individuals, businesses, and organizations across various sectors. While we consider the risk of modern slavery in our direct business operations to be low, we recognize the importance of being vigilant, particularly in relation to our supply chains. Our supply chains primarily involve the procurement of services such as IT, office supplies, professional services, and outsourced functions (e.g., catering, and cleaning).

We work with suppliers that share our commitment to ethical practices and human rights. Where possible, we seek to work with local suppliers who demonstrate good governance and ethical practices, and we conduct due diligence to assess the risk of modern slavery in our supply chains.

Our Policies and Procedures

To ensure modern slavery does not occur within our business or supply chains, we have implemented the following policies and procedures:

• Supplier Due Diligence
   We assess potential suppliers to ensure they comply with all applicable laws, including modern slavery laws, and we reserve the right to terminate relationships with suppliers that do not adhere to these standards.
• Employee Code of Conduct
   Our employees are required to adhere to a strict code of conduct that promotes ethical business practices and respect for human rights.
• Whistleblower Policy
  We encourage our employees, suppliers, and clients to report any concerns related to modern slavery or unethical practices. Reports can be made confidentially and without fear of retaliation.

Risk Assessment and Management

We regularly review and assess the risk of modern slavery within our operations and supply chains. Our risk management approach includes:

• Conducting audits of high-risk suppliers.
• Engaging with our suppliers to ensure they understand and meet their modern slavery obligations.
• Reviewing contracts with key suppliers to include commitments to combat modern slavery.

Training and Awareness

To support our commitment to preventing modern slavery, we provide ongoing training to our staff to raise awareness of modern slavery issues, the importance of ethical business practices, and how to identify and report potential instances of modern slavery.

Reporting Concerns

If you suspect any instance of modern slavery in our business operations or supply chains, we encourage you to contact us at tonnou@ghothane.com.au. All reports will be taken seriously and investigated promptly, and confidentiality will be maintained wherever possible.

Continuous Improvement

We are committed to continually improving our approach to preventing modern slavery. We will regularly review our policies and practices to ensure they remain effective and aligned with evolving legal requirements and best practices.

Compliance with the Modern Slavery Act

This statement is made per the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) and outlines the steps Ghothane Lawyers is taking to address and mitigate the risks of modern slavery within our business and supply chains.

Contact

For any questions regarding this disclaimer, please contact us at:

Ghothane Lawyers
Address: Level 1, 550 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: 1800 886 886
Email: info@ghothane.com.au