Milly is an Associate in the London commercial team at Mills & Reeve LLP. Since qualifying in September 2024, she has worked on a broad range of projects and enjoys supporting with ESG-related work.
This Practice Note
Examines the practical difficulties of global supply chains and the commercial lawyer’s role in building a resilient supply chain for a business. It reviews supply chain risk and the suite of tools available to lawyers to mitigate those risks, including assessing and managing partner risk, controlling risk through supply chain contracts, and supplementary approaches to risk management, as well as other methods for managing risk.
Effective risk management in supply chains demands insight into both operational realities and the legal obligations that apply wherever a company’s direct and indirect suppliers operate. The increasingly global nature of manufacturing supply chains raises even further the difficulty of managing risk and amplifies the consequences of failure. This is compounded by uncertain geopolitical and financial landscapes across jurisdictions that disturb harmonious conditions between markets, as shown in 2025 by the US imposing tariffs on certain global markets. On a global basis.
Consequently, the risks that almost every business must now routinely assess go beyond natural disasters, pandemics and market downturns, and include:
unpredictable consumption patterns
labour unavailability
product scarcity
global logistics issues
the rise of geopolitical tensions
Furthermore, in certain industries and sectors, businesses are being forced to implement increased scrutiny...
This Checklist outlines the principal risks and points to weigh when taking steps to build a resilient supply chain, covering demand, communication, mapping, supplier requirements, contingency plans, supplier agreements, supplier distress and insolvency, fraud, and de‑risking. It accompanies Practice Note: Securing a resilient supply chain.
Demand
In relation to demand, have you:
Evaluated the possible effects of a major supply chain event (eg geopolitical instability, a pandemic, or product shortages) on your customers/end users?
Considered how a significant supply chain event could influence your distribution network and adjusted it as necessary?
Assessed whether investing in technology (eg AI, digital twins, crisis and scenario modelling) could deliver solutions to sharp changes in supply and demand?
Communication
In relation to communication, have you:
Kept strong, regular dialogue with key suppliers, logistics partners and end customers about what you are doing and the steps you are taking?
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