Sherpa
Description
Sherpa is a French nonprofit association, founded in 2001 by lawyer William Bourdon. It brings together lawyers and jurists who use the law as a tool to fight impunity linked to the globalisation of economic and financial exchange, and to defend the victims of economic crimes. It has filed legal complaints against multinational companies over serious human rights and environmental abuses in their international supply chains and over their involvement in international corruption, including cases against several African heads of state and against the company Lafarge over complicity in crimes against humanity in Syria.
Sherpa acted with partners to secure passage of France’s law on the duty of vigilance for parent and ordering companies, a first worldwide in the fight against corporate impunity. In 2022 it co-founded the Maison des Lanceurs d’Alerte with sixteen other civil society organisations, to improve protection for whistleblowers. The organisation works through four interdependent modes of action: advocacy, legal action, capacity sharing with partner organisations, and a legal laboratory. The laboratory develops innovative legal concepts and strategies that can be replicated elsewhere.
Its work addresses countering corporate influence, ending corporate impunity, tackling illicit financial flows and protecting civic space. Sherpa states it pursues no profit and values independence, guarding against conflicts of interest with companies or institutions. It works with affected people and communities, other legal practitioners, associations and unions in France and abroad, technical and scientific experts, and journalists and investigative specialists. It belongs to a wide network of partner organisations across human rights, environmental, anti-corruption, media freedom and indigenous rights fields.
Sherpa produces press releases, analyses, investigations, reports, legal doctrine and handbooks of proposals. It invites the public to alert it to cases, become members, or volunteer.
Latest news
Nomination du Défenseur des droits : l’urgence d’une protection effective des lanceurs d’alerte
Dans un contexte d’attaques croissantes contre l’État de droit, la nomination du prochain Défenseur des droits est l'occasion de réaffirmer l’engagement de la France en faveur des lanceurs et lanceuses d'alerte.
10 Jul 2026
Le 7 juillet, Emmanuel Macron a nommé le sénateur républicain François-Noël Buffet au poste de Défenseur des droits. Bien que cette nomination doive encore être validée par l’Assemblée nationale et le Sénat, elle suscite une vive inquiétude parmi nos associations.
9 Jul 2026
Dans une décision sans précédent, le tribunal judiciaire de Paris a accepté de reconnaître un jugement qui condamne la Guinée à indemniser les victimes du massacre de Zogota, ouvrant la voie à l’exécution forcée de ce jugement en France.
8 Jul 2026
In an unprecedented ruling, the Paris Judicial Court has agreed to recognise a judgment ordering Guinea to compensate the victims of the Zogota massacre, paving the way for the enforcement of that judgment in France.
8 Jul 2026
TotalEnergies condamné pour manquement à son devoir de vigilance climatique
Dans le contentieux climatique porté par Notre Affaire à Tous, Sherpa, France Nature Environnement et la ville de Paris contre TotalEnergies, le tribunal judiciaire de Paris vient de condamner la multinationale pour manquement à son devoir de vigilance climatique.
25 Jun 2026
TotalEnergies Found Liable for Failing to Fulfil Its Climate Vigilance Obligations
In the climate lawsuit brought by Notre Affaire à Tous, Sherpa, France Nature Environnement, and the City of Paris against TotalEnergies, the Paris Judicial Court has just ruled against the multinational for failing to meet its duty of climate vigilance.
25 Jun 2026
Similar organizations
Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte e.V. (GFF) is a Berlin-based registered association working on fundamental and human rights in Germany.
The Southeast Europe Coalition on Whistleblower Protection is a regional organization that supports and protects whistleblowers.
Government Accountability Project (GAP) supports whistleblowers who report wrongdoing inside government and corporations.