Human rights are in the DNA of Hausfeld. Our commitment to pursue justice and fairness informs how we practice law and how we vindicate the rights of our clients around the world - from antitrust to antiracism.
Human Rights
For decades, Hausfeld lawyers have pioneered the field of human rights litigation, standing up to authoritarian regimes and powerful corporations on behalf of victims of genocide, terrorism, trafficking, torture, censorship, systemic racism, and plundered art works and assets.
As a global firm, we are uniquely positioned to litigate complex cross-border cases under domestic and international law. Hausfeld lawyers have tackled some of the world’s most challenging issues, from exposing the nexus of money laundering and mass atrocities, to defending media freedom in an age of disinformation, supporting whistleblowers, and confronting emerging online threats to human rights. We empower survivors of abuses to seek justice—whether in court, Congress, or the United Nations.
Hausfeld lawyers have led some of the most prominent human rights cases. For example:
- When Holocaust victims discovered that Swiss banks were still holding Nazi-looted artworks and assets, founding Chair Michael Hausfeld led a class action that resulted in the recovery of $1.25 billion for victims of slave labor and expropriation.
- Acting for 16 youth petitioners led by teenage activist Greta Thunberg in a groundbreaking climate change complaint filed at the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.
- Co-lead Counsel for a class of Sudanese refugees in the US who were victims of murder, rape, and torture by their own government’s atrocities - funded and sustained by BNP Paribas’s sanctions-evasion scheme.
For our additional Human Rights expertise in:
Chambers US, 2026There is no other law firm who I'd rather be side by side with. They have encyclopedic knowledge of the relevant law and deep sophistication and strategic awareness of what it takes to bring a case to a good result.
Chambers US, 2026Their diligence at all times has been exceptional. They are always willing to work tirelessly, especially during the jury trial and the period leading up to it, demonstrating excellent teamwork.
The Legal 500, US 2024The firm has a great deal of experience in handling class actions and individual cases asserting claims in the US and abroad.
Chambers US, 2024Hausfeld's team is talented across the board, it contains some of the hardest-working and smartest lawyers.
Chambers US, 2024It's an outstanding firm with very wide and deep experience
