research services

Why is the law like that? Where do these regulations come from? Were these legal consequences really intended? Are these provisions still fit for purpose? How is this dealt with in other countries? Isn't there a simpler or more efficient solution?

These are the kinds of questions we are regularly asked. And the answers are not always obvious. Legal research is not easy and, even at the best of times, requires a certain amount of expertise and know-how (not to mention a great deal of patience!). But the multi-jurisdictional, multi-disciplinary nature of CSR law makes legal research in this area a particular challenge. It is difficult, sometimes, to see how it all fits together.

And that's where we come in. With years of experience of legal research under our belts, and an unrivalled understanding of how CSR regulation works, we approach our research projects with a level of sophistication we doubt you will find elsewhere.

We won't give you legal advice (you will have to see a lawyer for that!). But we can and do help our clients understand the legal background and context to a particular problem, with a view to developing better compliance systems, for instance, or to develop a better understanding of emerging legal risks and, in some circumstances, to help them mount an effective case for change. We are also often asked to provide a comparative perspective, that is, to see if there are lessons that can be learned from other jurisdictions and, if so, how they could be adapted to fit the UK context.

In addition to technical legal research, we also carry out law-related empirical research work - to uncover corporate attitudes to law and law reform, for instance, and to obtain new insights into how CSR regulation works in practice. This typically involves designing a study plan, advising on and setting up surveys, arranging and conducting interviews, managing any follow-up and analysing and reporting on the results.