LBMA Position on the North Mara Mine Claim
In 2022 legal proceedings were instigated against LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) in England and Wales on behalf of two individuals from Tanzania. Specifically, the British Law Firm, Leigh Day, is alleging that security personnel (a combination of members of the Tanzanian Police Force and private security contractors) at the North Mara Mine (Tanzania), deployed disproportionate and excessive force which resulted in these two fatalities. The incidents in question are alleged to have occurred at the North Mara mine in 2019.
Any loss of life within the global precious metals industry is a tragedy. LBMA has every sympathy for any victims, survivors and families who may have been involved in any event that leads to a loss of life or to personal injury. It is critically important that ultimate accountability for any alleged violence rests with those who have perpetrated any violence.
A pre-trial review (PTR) was held on 17 July 2026 to address procedural and logistical matters ahead of the trial. The hearing confirmed that both parties remain on track to proceed with the trial listed to commence on 7 October 2026.
LBMA remains confident in its position and continues to prepare for trial.
Our Defence of the Claim
LBMA takes issues of human rights abuse very seriously, and we are naturally extremely concerned whenever there are any allegations of abuse in the global precious metals supply chain.
LBMA does not accept that the tragic fatalities were caused by, or are connected to, LBMA’s work, role or responsibilities. No claim is brought against the Tanzanian Police Force, the operators of the Mine, the refiner, or the refiner's independent auditor. Instead, the sole Defendant is LBMA, a London-based industry association.
LBMA is not a business enterprise involved in the alleged violations. It does not certify miners or mines, whether the North Mara mine or any other mine. LBMA has no control – either directly or indirectly – over those operating the mine or over the Tanzanian police force, nor does it oversee operations at the North Mara Mine. It has no personnel based in Tanzania. It is simply not possible for LBMA to police events taking place at the North Mara mine as it has no involvement in the transactions or business.
The alleged duty of care advanced by the claimants is therefore ill conceived and fundamentally misconstrues LBMA’s role in the precious metals industry. LBMA maintains that it acted reasonably and appropriately on the information available to it – in alignment with its own rules and the OECD guidelines.
Additionally, it should be noted that the claims commenced by Leigh Day on behalf of the two individuals are the subject of an anonymity order. LBMA is, therefore, unable to investigate the factual basis of the alleged events in question.
LBMA’s Role in Responsible Sourcing Ecosystem
LBMA is an independent precious metals association. Its mission is to promote the highest levels of leadership, integrity and transparency for the global precious metals industry by advancing standards and developing market solutions.
LBMA maintains a Good Delivery List, which sets technical standards such as fine ounce weight, purity and physical appearance. Refiners must meet these standards in order to receive accreditation by LBMA and to be eligible to deliver bars into the Loco London market.
In addition to these technical standards, Refiners seeking to obtain LBMA Good Delivery List accreditation are also required to implement LBMA’s ‘Responsible Sourcing Guidance’ and demonstrate adherence to its Responsible Gold Guidance - a comprehensive, evolving framework built on core due diligence principles aligned with international best practice - specifically the five-step framework set out by the OECD Due Diligence Guidance. It sets out a minimum baseline of expectations for Refiners to follow, helping to safeguard human rights, the environment, labour rights and communities across supply chains.
The RGG complements – but does not replace - Refiners' own due diligence responsibilities and regulatory obligations. Each year, LBMA requires GDL refiners to obtain independent assurance over their responsible sourcing management systems, controls and due diligence processes, including how they identify, assess and manage supply chain risks.
LBMA does not certify mines or mining companies, undertake mining activities, or oversee operations at mine sites.
LBMA is committed to bringing stakeholders together across the industry to improve responsible sourcing standards and drive continuous improvement across the precious metals supply chain. LBMA is continually working with all those involved in the precious metals industry to push for advancements in responsible sourcing, in line with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, its five-step framework, and responsible business practices, in which LBMA participated as key player in the multi-stakeholder development process.
More information about LBMA and its work and governance can be found on the About Us page and Case Studies page.
Timeline of Legal Proceedings
- December 2022: Claim filed by Leigh Day on behalf of two individuals against LBMA in the High Court in London.
- August 2023: LBMA served with the claim.
- August 2023: LBMA issues an application contesting that England is the appropriate forum for the resolution of these claims (as opposed to Tanzania). It is standard practice for parties to consider the appropriate forum for jurisdiction when a claim is filed, particularly if (i) the claim relates to harm allegedly being suffered in another jurisdiction, (ii) the law of that foreign jurisdiction applies – as is the case in this claim.
- June 2024: LBMA agreed to withdraw its application contesting jurisdiction of the English Court.
- September 2024: LBMA filed its defence in the High Court.
- November 2024: Leigh Day filed a response to LBMA’s defence.
- January 2025: The first Costs and Case Management Conference (CMC hearing) was held in London.
- December 2025: Leigh Day issued materially similar claims on behalf of 26 further claimants, and 5 more potential claimants. The court decided those claims would be dealt with after the outcome of the October 2026 trial.
- January 2026: Confirmed the case will proceed to a full trial on 7th October 2026.
- July 2026: Leigh Day and LBMA participated in a pre-trial review, confirming that both parties remain on track to proceed with the trial listed in October.
Media and stakeholder enquiries
For enquiries relating to the North Mara litigation, please contact:
Katherine Ernst
LBMA Head of Communications
[email protected]
Tel: 07341 041 845
Due to ongoing legal proceedings, LBMA may be limited in the level of detail it can provide.
Media Centre
Last Reviewed: 17th July 2026.
Statements in Response to the North Mara Claim
Statement on 17th July 2026
LBMA has undertaken extensive preparation for the upcoming legal proceedings relating to alleged events at the North Mara mine.
The pre-trial review (PTR) held on 17 July sought to address procedural and logistical challenges ahead of the trial scheduled for October. As a procedural hearing, the PTR does not address the merits of the case and therefore does not indicate what to expect during the trial. However, it confirmed that both parties remain on track to proceed with the trial later this year.
LBMA welcomes the progress made in court today and the acknowledgement by claimants' counsel of the cooperation displayed by the defence in seeking to resolve outstanding pre-trial issues. LBMA is confident that it has acted appropriately and in accordance with its rules and looks forward to defending itself at trial in October.
LBMA does not accept that it is legally responsible for the tragic fatalities. LBMA’s role is to advance standards and promote good trading practices for financial institutions ( i.e. banks and traders), gold and silver refiners, transporters and others operating in the global precious metals industry. That role, and the responsibilities that come with it, has been fundamentally misconstrued by the claimants in these proceedings.
Statement on 26th January 2026
Following amendments to the claims brought against LBMA, the parties agreed to reschedule the trial date that was initially set for July 2026. By agreement, the trial has been listed by the King's Bench Division to commence on 12 October 2026 for a five week period.
LBMA takes allegations of human rights abuses in the gold industry extremely seriously. We maintain that the alleged fatalities at the North Mara Mine are unrelated to LBMA’s role in the London Loco market. We remain fully committed to defending the claim and confident in the legal process.
Statement on 31st January 2025
Sakhila Mirza, Deputy CEO and General Counsel at LBMA said;
‘Last week, a Case Management Conference was held regarding a claim filed against LBMA in the High Court. This was not a hearing to address the substance of the case but rather an opportunity to establish procedural steps in the legal process.
We are confident that the allegations as set forth in this claim are wholly without merit, and we have stated since this claim was filed that LBMA intends to defend itself when the case proceeds to a full trial next year.
At LBMA we take all human rights issues very seriously, as we understand that there is always more work that all industry partners can and should be doing in seeking to advance standards of human rights across the sector. We are committed to continuing to fulfil our own role in this important work, by upholding and improving standards across the global precious metals supply chain.’
Statement on 11th October 2024
Sakhila Mirza, Deputy CEO and General Counsel at LBMA said;
‘LBMA intends to defend itself against the entirety of the claims. These claims are based on a fundamental mischaracterisation of LBMA’s role in the global precious metals market, and a misguided attempt to impose a duty of care on LBMA in respect of the health and safety of artisanal miners. The circumstances of the case, while tragic, appear to relate to alleged acts on the part of the Tanzanian Police Force who were responsible for law and order around the North Mara mine.
At LBMA we take human rights abuses and our role in upholding and improving standards in the global precious metals supply chain very seriously. Whenever we are made aware of human rights concerns at a mine from which an accredited (GDL) refiner sources gold, we will require the refiner to engage and work with those operating the mine to investigate those allegations fully.
There is undoubtedly more work that all industry partners can and should be doing in seeking to advance standards of human rights across the sector. At LBMA we are driven by our ethos of continuous improvement. We support the OECD due diligence guidance for responsible supply chains for minerals from conflict and high-risk areas – which we helped draft and finalise.
A timetable to trial is likely to be set by the Court in early 2025’.
Statement on 17th June 2024
LBMA is a not-for-profit member-based association which provides accreditation to refiners of gold and silver via LBMA’s “Good Delivery List”. The Good Delivery List, first and foremost, sets technical standards (fine ounce weight, purity and physical appearance) which refiners must meet.
Refiners that wish to be included on the Good Delivery List are required to implement the LBMA’s ‘Responsible Sourcing Guidance’, which comprises the Responsible Gold Guidance and Responsible Silver Guidance, and to obtain annual independent third-party assurances reporting on their compliance with this guidance. Our role is to support raising standards around human rights in the supply chain.
LBMA will be defending the substance of the claim when we proceed to trial.