Overview
No matter what industry you’re doing business in, supply chain concerns can place demands on your bottom line and affect the integrity of your organization. Whether you’re combating rising costs, labor force or human rights issues, or logistics and transportation problems resulting in material shortages that are disrupting production, the attorneys in Butzel’s broad scope of practice areas collaborate to deliver the experience you need to keep your business moving in the right direction.
We help clients to integrate sustainable practices, offer analyses to identify vulnerabilities, and make strategic recommendations to reduce waste, lower emissions, and build resilient, ethical supply networks. Our experience and legal savvy across industries is built on a formidable foundation developed over decades of advising business trailblazers leading organizations of all sizes. Our supply chain advisory services address human rights, ethical sourcing, and compliance with labor standards. We offer guidance on best practices in corporate governance, including board composition, anti-corruption policies, and transparent executive compensation. Our experience includes assisting with establishing robust product safety and quality systems, strengthening data privacy and cybersecurity protocols, and implementing community engagement and philanthropic programs. We help clients navigate environment, social, and governance (ESG) reporting requirements and stakeholder communications, ensuring transparency and alignment with leading frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards.
Our Labor and Employment Team guides clients in achieving compliance with regulatory requirements related to ethical labor practices and human rights throughout the supply chain. We advise on federal laws such as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which sets disclosure standards for conflict minerals, and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which restricts the import of goods linked to forced labor. Additionally, we provide counsel on the Lacey Act and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to ensure proper documentation and origin reporting. Internationally, we help clients navigate evolving standards and requirements under laws and frameworks governing ethical sourcing and labor practices. Our services support clients in maintaining transparency, upholding labor rights, and mitigating risks tied to non-compliance.
Automotive
Our experience supporting Tier 1, 2, and 3 suppliers across the supply chain is vast. We assist with ESG audits and compliance reviews, helping teams align with evolving expectations from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and regulators. Our work spans environmental sustainability—including emissions compliance, carbon footprint reduction, and sustainable materials—guided by standards such as ISO 14001:2026, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) laws and regulations such as the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Superfund/Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and others, and the European Union’s (EU) Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The EU’s CSRD is reshaping the automotive industry’s ESG landscape by requiring detailed disclosures on sustainability risks, supply chain impacts, and emissions across the value chain—pressuring suppliers and OEMs alike to ensure transparency and compliance. Our experience extends to enabling circular economy strategies—such as vehicle end-of-life management and waste minimization—and developing climate resilience plans tailored to supply chain risks.
Health Care
The health care industry faces complex supply chain and ESG challenges driven by its reliance on global networks for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and critical raw materials. Supply chain risks include disruptions from geopolitical tensions, regulatory shifts, and ethical sourcing concerns, particularly around labor practices and material traceability. On the ESG front, hospitals and manufacturers are under increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions, minimize waste, ensure responsible procurement, and enhance transparency across suppliers.
We provide strategic management of complex regulatory and legislative issues, to establish and maintain compliance with existing laws and regulations, and to support our clients in building strong reputations and lasting relationships across the supply chain. We help clients address ESG and supply chain challenges by improving transparency, strengthening sustainability practices, and managing risks tied to sourcing, waste, and compliance—building resilience that supports long-term organizational success. Our Health Care Industry Team is fully integrated with our other practice areas, including corporate, intellectual property, advertising, product liability, litigation, government relations, and other disciplines. Our objective is to bring the right solutions for the issues and challenges that confront our clients.
People
Experience
Represented a defense contractor accused of fraudulently supplying non-conforming materials to the Department of Defense
Conducted environmental due diligence and organized a transfer of environmental permits for the purchase of a portable energy production facility
Represented county in a variety of issues from construction of a $300 million upgrade and expansion of its wastewater treatment plant to compliance of its wastewater discharge limits
Represented health care client with the environmental aspects of the sale of the company
