Cigarettes multinational British American Tobacco (BAT) has turned to longtime adviser Slaughter and May as it faces possible High Court action after field workers in Malawi accused the giant of forced and child labour, according to people close to the matter. 

The London-headquartered company stands accused of having made significant profits from tobacco leaves picked by farmers who have said they were forced to work for derisory pay in a climate of fear, such that they felt compelled to put their children to work too. 

The group of farmers is thought to comprise about 1,500, but could be as many as 15,000 once all claims are logged, according to the law firm representing the group, Leigh Day. Lawyers at Leigh Day said child farmers are expected to perform the same tasks as adult farmers, such as planting and harvesting tobacco leaves, applying toxic pesticides and bundling tobacco leaves, with all workers routinely working 10 to 12 hour days in high heat.