INVITATION SPECIAL EVENT

Paul Hoffman & Martyn Day

Seeking Justice for Victims of Human Rights Abuses by Companies: Experiences of US & UK practitioners Thursday, October 25, 2012
Time: doors open 5:30 PM, event starts 6 PM, finishes 7:15 PM free of charge Brief presentations by Paul and Martyn will be followed by questions from the audience Light refreshments will be served With brief remarks by Greg Regaignon, Research Director, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre Venue: Offices of Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris Hoffman & Harrison, LLP 723 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291 map & directions here Space is limited; please RSVP as soon as possible to Greg Regaignon: regaignon@business-humanrights.org

Paul will speak on the Kiobel v. Shell case he argued on October 1 before the US Supreme Court, and its implications for the future of litigation in the US over human rights abuses abroad. Martyn will speak on trends, the state of play, and barriers to access to justice in the UK for victims of abuses occurring overseas and involving companies.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is pleased to invite you to an event featuring two leading human rights lawyers: Paul Hoffman (US) and Martyn Day (UK). Both have been involved with landmark human rights lawsuits against companies. Paul Hoffman argued for petitioners in the landmark Kiobel v. Shell case before the US Supreme Court on October 1 the case that will decide whether US courts will be able to continue to hear human rights cases brought by foreign citizens for abuses committed outside the US. Paul has also brought lawsuits against companies including: multinationals that allegedly supplied critical support to South Africas government during apartheid; Unocal for alleged complicity in abuses by the Burmese military; Bridgestone-Firestone (re Liberia); Chevron (re Nigeria); Occidental Petroleum (re Colombia); Talisman (re Sudan); Wal-Mart (re various countries).

Paul is a partner at Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris Hoffman & Harrison, LLP, in Venice. He previously was Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Foundation of Southern California, and

served as Chair of Amnesty International. He is an Adjunct Professor at University of California-Irvine Law School and has written extensively on civil and human rights issues. Martyn Day has brought human rights lawsuits against a number of companies during his career, including: Trafigura over dumping of toxic waste in Cte dIvoire affecting 30,000 impoverished people; Cape plc & Gencor on behalf of South Africans suffering from asbestos-related diseases; BP on behalf of Colombian farmers alleging severe environmental damage to their lands; Anglo American (re South Africa); Thor Chemicals (re South Africa); Gallaher & Imperial Tobacco (on behalf of lung cancer victims).

Martyn is Senior Partner of London-based Leigh Day & Co Solicitors; he is also a Director of Greenpeace Environmental Trust. The Times named him one of the UK's most powerful and influential lawyers. Chambers ranked Martyn a star individual, and said of him: "He has a 'phenomenal' reputation in public law, environment and personal injury; a real fighter for his clients; without question one of the most knowledgeable and experienced environmental lawyers in the country." Business & Human Rights Resource Centre Business & Human Rights Resource Centre tracks the human rights impacts (positive & negative) of 5100 companies in over 190 countries, seeks responses from companies when concerns are raised by civil society, and provides tools and resources for everyone working in this field. Our aim: To encourage companies to respect human rights, avoid harm to people, and maximise their positive contribution. Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and President of Ireland, chairs our 70member International Advisory Network; 23 leading academic institutions comprise our Academic Partners. The Centres researchers are based in Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Senegal, South Africa, UK, Ukraine and USA soon also Brazil and Thailand. The Centres Corporate Legal Accountability Portal provides up-to-date profiles of over 70 lawsuits in all parts of the world, and commentaries by experts including Paul Hoffman and Martyn Day. In addition to the Corporate Legal Accountability Portal, the Resource Centres site features portals on: Business & Children Business & Freedom of Association Business, Conflict & Peace Getting Started Tools & Guidance UN Special Representative on Business & Human Rights UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights UN Working Group on business and human rights For further details, see the About us section of our website.

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