Managing risks in the supply chain

Supply chains are vulnerable to ethical as well as criminal risks for companies with complex sourcing networks. Paige Berges of Ropes & Gray sets out considerations to evaluate financial crime-related risks in the supply chain.

Paige Berges (+44 20 3201 1604, paige.berges@ropesgray.com) is counsel in Ropes & Gray’s Anti-Corruption and International Risk group. Based in London, she is a US and UK-qualified lawyer with broad cross-border experience conducting internal investigations, enforcement and defence.

Companies are taking enhanced steps to evaluate and mitigate risks in their supply chain, whether in response to increased focus from consumers, stakeholders and/or regulators. The first question to be answered is which risks should the company consider, and which should they prioritise. This will depend on the risk profile of the company: where they operate, what goods/services they provide and what types of risks are present in their supply chain.