Modern slavery in 2026

At the 23rd annual Law reform lecture, we will welcome the Attorney-General and Mrs Justice Eady to deliver a keynote speech joined by a panel of guests to discuss their perspective of modern slavery and the future of the law.

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When
2 July 2026, 18:00 - 20:00
Event Type
Lecture
Where
London
Topics
Law reform, open justice, Rule of Law

About the event

Since the Modern Slavery Act 2015 how has the law evolved nationally and internationally, and has it addressed modern slavery, trafficking and exploitation in an effective way?

Our speakers will consider modern slavery legislation and case law in its wider context alongside employment law and human rights. Our panel will also field important questions as to the latest reports into modern slavery, recommendations for reform and the particular dynamics of sexual exploitation, forced labour and domestic servitude.

Are we on track to meet the UN Sustainability Development Goal of ending forced labour, modern slavery, and human trafficking by 2030? Join us to hear different perspectives on how far the legal journey has brought us to date. 

Programme

  • Short introduction by the Chair of our Law Reform Committee, Eleena Misra KC
  • Keynote speakers
  • Q&A
  • Drinks reception

Speakers

Lord Hermer KC

Attorney General

Richard Hermer currently serves as the Attorney General for England and Wales, as well as the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.

He previously had a thirty-year career in the legal profession, being called to the Bar in 1993 and taking silk in 2009. He is a proud alumnus for the University of Manchester.

Richard spent much of his career representing victims of state and corporate failure, including the families of those who died in the Grenfell Fire. In 2022, he was appointed to the Task Force on Accountability for Crimes Committed in Ukraine, following the Russian invasion.

He grew up in Cardiff and is happily married with two wonderful children.

Photo: Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street

Dame Jennifer Eady DBE

High Court Judge, King’s Bench Division

Dame Jennifer Eady (Jenny) is a High Court Judge, having taken up her appointment in 2019.  She sits in the King’s Bench Division.

From 2022-2025, Jenny was President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal.  She is currently Chair of the International Training Committee of the Judicial College. 

Called to the Bar in 1989, Jenny specialised in employment and discrimination law, taking silk in 2006.  She held fee-paid appointments as an Employment Judge and Recorder, before taking salaried judicial office as Senior Circuit Judge at the EAT in December 2013. 

Jenny was a trustee of the Free Representation Unit from 2007-2014, and a member of the Acas Council from 2008-2014.  She was a trustee of the Wallace Collection from 2013-2021, and of the London Musical Theatre Orchestra from 2024-2025.

Guest Panel 

Peter Carter KC

Doughty Street Chambers

Peter Carter KC has been in silk since 1995. He is a member of Doughty Street Chambers. His practice is principally in cases of commercial fraud, terrorism, and human trafficking.

He is a former chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee and was a special adviser to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Modern Slavery Bill and the Frank Field Review of the Act. He chaired the Bar working group on the Investigatory Powers Bill.

He is currently leading counsel to an inquiry into the conduct of a major financial institution.

Parosha Chandran

Barrister and Professor of Practice in Modern Slavery Law

Professor Parosha Chandran is a barrister at One Pump Court and Professor of Practice in Modern Slavery Law at King’s College London.

An internationally renowned authority on human trafficking, modern slavery and forced labour, she is an expert to the United Nations and Council of Europe and has spent nearly three decades at the Bar shaping legal standards, policy and protection for victims in the UK and internationally.

She is the only lawyer representing trafficking victims to have secured three unanimous judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, each against a different State. She has contributed to numerous UN and international texts on trafficking, advised on victim protection during the passage of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and received the US Secretary of State’s Trafficking in Persons Hero Award 2015 for her cases and work to develop the rule of law for victims of modern slavery at home and abroad.

She is the author of two books and co-author of the Council of Europe’s extensive e-learning programme on Combating Human Trafficking.

Eleanor Lyons

Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner

Eleanor Lyons is the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, a role established by the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Independent of government, the Commissioner works to encourage good practice and scrutinise the effectiveness of the UK’s response to modern slavery and human trafficking. This includes efforts to prevent exploitation, support victims and bring perpetrators to justice. The Commissioner works with public authorities, businesses, civil society and law enforcement across the UK.

Eleanor began her three-year term in December 2023, with a focus on keeping modern slavery high on the political agenda, strengthening the evidence base and ensuring the voices of those with lived experience inform policy and practice.

Adam Smith-Anthony

Solicitor advocate, Omnia Strategy LLP

Adam is a Partner and solicitor-advocate at Omnia Strategy where he leads the Human Rights practice.

Building on a background spanning IP/commercial law and PIL – including in-house support at two technology clients, litigation support for the UNHCR, and judicial support at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda – Adam was one of the first solicitors in London with a dedicated business and human rights practice. In his dozen years at Omnia, Adam has advised and represented business, CSO and individual clients on a wide range of matters of corporate strategy and practice, responsibility and liability, leadership and collaboration.

In recent months, Adam coordinated a specialist team of Omnia lawyers and counsel working pro bono for Unseen, the UK anti-slavery charity, and with the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, to develop model legislative drafting published in December in IASC’s report Strengthening the UK’s Forced Labour and Human Rights Legislative Framework.

Chair

Eleena Misra KC

Chair of the Law Reform Committee of the Bar Council of England and Wales

Eleena is the Chair of the Law Reform Committee of the Bar Council of England and Wales. She is a specialist Employment & Equalities silk with complementary expertise in Professional Discipline & Regulation and Public Law.

Eleena is particularly active in the healthcare and education sectors. She has broad experience ranging from high value financial services disputes, injunctions involving confidential information and restraint of disciplinary proceedings, and investigations into sensitive sexual misconduct allegations.

Eleena is qualified in forensic medicine and is currently leading the legal team for the largest cohort of bereaved families in the Lampard Inquiry into Mental Health Deaths. She is a Bencher of Middle Temple, a trustee of the Stock Exchange Dramatic & Operatic Society, and active mentor and supporter of future generations of barristers.

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Our previous Law reform lectures

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