Weiss Models LLC
Code of Business Conduct & Ethics
OVERVIEW
Weiss Models LLC operates with a commitment to socially responsible model and talent management, prioritizing fair, transparent, and sustainable employment practices. We are dedicated to fostering diversity, inclusivity, and equal opportunity across every part of our network. As a global-facing mother agency, Weiss Models recognizes that our partners operate across different countries with unique laws, cultural norms, and professional standards. We respect and honor these differences while maintaining our own consistent expectations of professionalism and integrity.
Weiss Models’ policy is to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct in all areas of business. Every individual representing Weiss Models—employees, models, contractors, partner agencies, and collaborators—shares a responsibility to protect the reputation of the Agency in all professional interactions. This includes relationships with talent, clients, suppliers, competitors, and regulatory bodies. All representatives are entrusted to perform their duties diligently, responsibly, and with full consideration of applicable laws, industry regulations, and Weiss Models’ values.
We expect everyone associated with the Agency to protect not only their own professional reputation but also the reputation of Weiss Models LLC. Individuals must avoid any situation, action, or relationship in which their personal interests conflict—or could reasonably appear to conflict—with the interests of the Agency. Ethical judgment, transparency, and accountability are essential to maintaining the trust placed in us by our talent, partners, and clients worldwide.
Scope of the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics
This Code forms part of Weiss Models LLC’s broader responsibility to safeguard the rights, dignity, and well-being of every individual engaged through the Agency and within its extended global network of partner and placement agencies (“the Weiss Network”).
The purpose of this Code is to uphold fair working conditions, ethical practices, and responsible management of social and professional issues throughout the Weiss Network. All representatives of Weiss Models—including employees, models, signed talent, contractors, and partner agencies—are expected to maintain systems and practices that ensure full compliance with this Code. These standards are designed to protect all individuals working within or on behalf of Weiss Models and its global partners.
This Code exists to prevent misconduct, promote ethical decision-making, and ensure that all business conducted by Weiss Models is done with integrity, transparency, and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. It applies to Weiss Models LLC, including all affiliates, collaborators, and international partners acting under or in coordination with the Agency.
Anyone with questions about this Code or how it applies in a particular situation is encouraged to contact Agency leadership or the designated compliance representative at Weiss Models LLC.
Compliance with Laws, Rules & Regulations
All individuals representing or working with Weiss Models LLC are required to enter into agreements or undertakings in the forms provided by the Agency from time to time. These documents outline terms of engagement, including expectations related to ethical conduct and professional standards.
Weiss Models requires full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards in every location where the Agency or its partners operate. Everyone affiliated with Weiss Models is expected to exercise sound judgment, act with integrity, and seek clarification whenever they are unsure about legal or regulatory requirements. When in doubt, individuals should consult Agency leadership for guidance.
Model Care & Well-Being
Weiss Models is committed to accepting only those bookings and partnerships that uphold safe, respectful, and professional working conditions for all models. Every reasonable measure must be taken to ensure models’ physical safety, mental well-being, dignity, and fair treatment. All work must comply with applicable legal requirements as well as responsible, modern industry practices.
Underage Models
In jurisdictions where models under the age of 18 may legally work, Weiss Models will engage minor talent only in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. This may include:
Obtaining written consent from a parent or legal guardian
Securing any required permits or authorizations
Adhering to restricted work hours and scheduling requirements
Ensuring the work environment is age-appropriate, safe, and responsibly supervised
Weiss Models must take all necessary precautions to protect the safety, well-being, and developmental needs of minors working through the Agency. A qualified chaperone or guardian must accompany any underage model as required by law and by Weiss Models’ internal standards.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Weiss Models LLC maintains strict non-discrimination policies in all areas of hiring, representation, collaboration, and engagement. Discrimination of any kind—including on the basis of ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, nationality, disability, political affiliation, union membership, health status, or any other protected characteristic—is strictly prohibited.
Weiss Models will not tolerate discriminatory behavior, practices, or decision-making in any part of the Agency or within the broader Weiss Network.
No Harsh or Inhumane Treatment
Weiss Models upholds a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of harsh, abusive, or inappropriate conduct. This includes:
Physical abuse or threats
Sexual harassment or coercion
Verbal abuse, bullying, or intimidation
Psychological manipulation or hostile behavior
No individual representing or working with Weiss Models may engage in or condone such behavior. Violations will result in immediate action.
Fair & Lawful Employment Practices
To the extent applicable under national laws and regulations, all work performed through Weiss Models or its partners must be based on legally recognized employment or contractual relationships. Weiss Models will not circumvent labor laws, social protections, or regulatory obligations through informal, misleading, or unauthorized arrangements.
The Agency is committed to ensuring transparent, lawful, and fair working practices for all individuals it engages.
Legal Right to Work
All models, talent, employees, and contractors engaged by Weiss Models must have the legal right to work in the country where the engagement takes place. Authorized representatives of the Agency are responsible for verifying this through valid, original documentation—and returning those documents immediately after review.
Weiss Models and its partners are expected to maintain reliable internal processes to ensure continuous compliance with right-to-work regulations and to prevent unauthorized or unlawful employment.
Employment Must Be Freely Chosen
Weiss Models LLC strictly prohibits all forms of modern slavery, forced labor, bonded labor, human trafficking, or involuntary work of any kind. Neither the Agency nor any individual or partner connected to the Agency may participate in, benefit from, or ignore any practice that restricts a person’s freedom to choose or leave their employment. All engagements with Weiss Models must be voluntary and lawful.
Safe & Hygienic Working Conditions
Weiss Models is committed to ensuring that all work environments—whether at the Agency, on set, backstage, or at partner facilities—are safe, hygienic, and compliant with local building, structural, fire, and electrical safety laws. Everyone involved in productions, castings, and Agency-related activities must prioritize safety and maintain workspaces that meet or exceed legal health and safety requirements.
Sub-Contracting Restrictions
No individual, contractor, partner agency, or affiliate may subcontract any aspect of work or services related to Weiss Models without prior written authorization from the Agency. All third-party engagements must be approved to ensure that they meet Weiss’s ethical, legal, and operational standards.
Use of Computer Software & Digital Property
All representatives of Weiss Models must comply with software licensing and copyright laws. Unauthorized copying, use, distribution, or installation of software on Agency devices—or in any capacity connected with the Agency—is strictly prohibited. All digital tools, platforms, and systems must be used responsibly and in accordance with Weiss Models’ policies.
Reporting Violations
If any individual becomes aware of a violation of laws, regulations, or Agency policies—whether committed by someone within Weiss Models or by a third party acting on the Agency’s behalf—they are required to report the issue promptly to Agency leadership or the designated compliance representative. Please refer to Weiss Models’ Reporting & Compliance Procedures for guidance on how to submit concerns safely and confidentially.
Competition Law Compliance Policy
Weiss Models is committed to operating fairly and responsibly, which includes following all applicable competition laws. This applies to everyone working with or representing the agency.
Most competition-law issues come up when interacting with other agencies or anyone considered a competitor. These laws prohibit exchanging commercially sensitive information—things like pricing, rates, costs, client details, or future business plans. Even a single exchange can be considered a violation, and intentional arrangements (such as rate-setting or market-splitting) can carry serious legal consequences.
If you think you may have shared or received sensitive information by accident, or you’ve seen something that doesn’t feel right, speak with your supervisor or the Compliance Officer as soon as possible.
Associates must not:
Discuss or encourage discussions about pricing, costs, client lists, or business strategies with competitors.
Stay in meetings or conversations where sensitive information is being exchanged, even passively.
Enter into any agreement or informal understanding that could limit fair competition, such as agreeing not to pitch for certain clients or markets.
If a competitor shares information that feels sensitive or inappropriate, notify the Compliance Officer immediately. Simply receiving this type of information can be a problem unless you take clear steps to distance yourself from it.
When in doubt about anything related to competition law, reach out to the Compliance Officer early. Asking questions is always better than assuming.
Conflicts of Interest and Corporate Opportunities
Associates must avoid any activity or personal interest that creates a conflict of interest.
A conflict of interest exists when an Associate’s personal interests interfere — or appear to interfere — with the interests of Weiss Models. A conflict may also arise when an Associate’s actions or outside interests prevent them from carrying out their responsibilities for Weiss Models honestly, objectively, and effectively. Conflicts can also occur when an Associate has a personal interest in a transaction involving Weiss Models, competes with Weiss Models, or takes advantage of an opportunity that rightfully belongs to Weiss Models.
Associates are not permitted to take for themselves any opportunity that properly belongs to Weiss Models, or that they become aware of through the use of Weiss Models’ property, information, or position. Associates may not use Weiss Models’ property, information, or position for personal gain, and they may not compete with Weiss Models. For example: an Associate may not provide managerial or consulting services, or serve on the board of directors (or a similar governing body), of any entity that competes or has business dealings with Weiss Models without first obtaining written approval from the Chief Executive Officer and/or the Board of Directors.
It is not always obvious when a situation creates a conflict of interest. When an Associate encounters a potential conflict, they must report the situation to the Compliance Officer so the matter can be reviewed and appropriate guidance can be provided. Please refer to the Reporting and Compliance Procedures.
Confidentiality
Associates must maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to them by Weiss Models or other companies, including our suppliers and clients, except when disclosure is authorized by a supervisor or legally mandated.
Unauthorized disclosure of any confidential information is strictly prohibited. Associates must also take appropriate precautions to ensure that confidential or sensitive business information — whether it is proprietary to Weiss Models, any of its agencies, or any other company — is not shared within Weiss Models except with employees who have a legitimate need to know the information to perform their responsibilities.
Third parties may request information about Weiss Models. Associates (other than Weiss Models’ authorized spokespersons) must not discuss internal Weiss Models matters or disclose internal Weiss Models information to anyone outside the company, except as required in the performance of their duties and only when an appropriate confidentiality agreement is in place. This restriction applies especially to inquiries about Weiss Models from the media, market professionals (including analysts, investors, advisers, brokers, and dealers), and security holders. All responses to external inquiries made on behalf of Weiss Models must come only from authorized spokespersons. If you, as an Associate, receive such an inquiry, you must decline to comment and refer the inquirer to your supervisor or one of Weiss Models’ authorized spokespersons.
Associates must also comply with any lawful obligations they owe to previous employers. These obligations may include restrictions on the use or disclosure of confidential information, limitations on soliciting former colleagues to join Weiss Models, and non-competition commitments. At Weiss Models’ discretion, certain Associates may be required to sign a confidentiality agreement—either at the start of employment or upon transfer to a role that involves access to confidential or trade-secret information.
Honest and Ethical Conduct and Fair Dealing
Associates should endeavor to deal honestly, ethically, and fairly with Weiss Models’ suppliers, clients, competitors, and employees.
Statements regarding Weiss Models’ products and services must not be untrue, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent.
As an Associate, you must not take advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair-dealing practice.
Protection and Proper Use of Corporate Assets
Associates should seek to protect Weiss Models’ assets. Theft, carelessness, and waste of Weiss Models’ assets have a direct impact on the company’s profitability and cannot be tolerated.
Associates are entrusted with the use of Weiss Models’ assets and resources solely for legitimate business purposes of Weiss Models and not for any personal benefit or for the personal benefit of anyone else.
Associates who are authorized to use funds of Weiss Models are responsible for ensuring that Weiss Models receives proper value in return. The use of Weiss Models’ funds for personal, improper, or illegal purposes is strictly prohibited. Weiss Models will take appropriate action, including notifying the appropriate civil authorities, if this principle is violated, and in any such case, disciplinary action will be taken. Additionally, the use of any Weiss Models’ assets in any manner that is offensive, disruptive, or destructive is prohibited.
Associates must advance Weiss Models’ legitimate interests when the opportunity to do so arises. Associates must not take for themselves personal opportunities that are discovered through their position with Weiss Models or through the use of Weiss Models’ property or information.
Gifts and Gratuities
The use of Weiss Models funds or assets for gifts, gratuities or other favours to employees or government officials is prohibited, except to the extent such gifts are in compliance with applicable law, nominal in amount and not given in consideration or expectation of any action by the recipient.
An Associate must NOT accept or permit any member of his or her immediate family to accept any gifts, gratuities or other favours from any customer, supplier or other person doing or seeking to do business with Weiss Models, other than items of nominal value.
Any items or gifts with a reasonably estimated value in excess of USD 200 should be returned immediately and reported to the Group Compliance Officer. If immediate return is not practical, they should be given to Weiss Models for charitable disposition or such other disposition as Weiss Models believes appropriate in its sole discretion.
Common sense and moderation should prevail in business entertainment engaged in on behalf of Weiss Models. Associates should provide, or accept, business entertainment to or from anyone doing business with Weiss Models only if the entertainment is infrequent, modest and intended to serve legitimate business goals.
Accuracy of Books and Records and Public Reports
Associates must honestly and accurately report all business transactions.
As an Associate, you are responsible for the accuracy of your records and reports. Accurate information is essential to Weiss Models’ ability to meet legal and regulatory obligations.
All Weiss books, records and accounts shall be maintained in accordance with all applicable regulations and standards and accurately reflect the true nature of the transactions they record. The financial statements of Weiss Models shall conform to generally accepted accounting rules and Weiss Models’ accounting policies. No undisclosed or unrecorded account or fund shall be established for any purpose. No false or misleading entries shall be made in Weiss Models’ books or records for any reason, and no disbursement of corporate funds or other corporate property shall be made without adequate supporting documentation.
It is the policy of Weiss Models to provide full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents filed with, or submitted to, the applicable authorities and in other public communications. No Associate shall, directly or indirectly, make or cause to be made a materially false or misleading statement to an accountant in connection with any audit, review or examination of Weiss Models’ financial statements or the preparation or filing of any document with the applicable authority.
No Associate shall, directly or indirectly, take any action to coerce, manipulate, mislead or fraudulently influence any independent public or certified public accountant engaged in the performance of an audit or review of Weiss Models’financial statements.
Employees with concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters or complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters may confidentially, and anonymously if they wish, submit such concerns or complaints in writing to Weiss Models’ Group Compliance Officer. Please see Reporting and Compliance Procedures.
Waivers of this Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
While some of the policies contained in this Code must be strictly adhered to and no exceptions can be allowed, in other cases exceptions may be appropriate.
Any Associate who believes that an exception to any of these policies is appropriate in his or her case should first contact his or her immediate supervisor. If the supervisor agrees that an exception is appropriate, the Group Compliance Officer must be informed. The Group Compliance Officer shall be responsible for maintaining a complete record of all requests for exceptions to any of these policies and the disposition of such requests.
Any waiver of this Code for Associates or any change to this Code that applies to Associates may be made only by the Board of Directors of Weiss Models.
Reporting and Compliance Procedures
Weiss Models is committed to conducting its business with honesty and integrity and expects every Associate to maintain high standards. However, Weiss Models understands that all organisations face the risk of things going wrong from time to time, or of unknowingly harbouring illegal or unethical conduct.
Accordingly, Weiss Models believes that a culture of openness and accountability is essential in order to prevent such situations occurring or to address them when they do occur.
Associates have the responsibility to ask questions, seek guidance, report suspected violations and express concerns regarding compliance with this Code.
Any Associate who knows or believes that any other Associate has engaged or is engaging in Weiss Models-related conduct that violates applicable law or this Code should report such information to the Group Compliance Officer openly or anonymously without fear of retaliation.
Weiss Models will not discipline, discriminate or retaliate against anyone who reports such conduct or violation, unless it is determined that the report was made with knowledge that it was false. Any model, employee or other Associate can report any untoward incident or violation of this Code to the Group Compliance Officer in the absolute knowledge that it will be dealt with by Weiss Models in confidence and without any damage to his/her career.
If the Group Compliance Officer receives information regarding an alleged violation of this Code, he or she shall, as appropriate,
(a) evaluate such information,
(b) inform Weiss Models’ Board of Directors of the alleged violation,
(c) determine whether it is necessary to conduct an informal inquiry or a formal investigation and, if so, initiate such inquiry or investigation, and
(d) report the results of any such inquiry or investigation, together with a recommendation as to disposition of the matter, to the Board of Directors for action.
(a) evaluate such information,
(b) inform Weiss Models’ Board of Directors of the alleged violation,
(c) determine whether it is necessary to conduct an informal inquiry or a formal investigation and, if so, initiate such inquiry or investigation, and
(d) report the results of any such inquiry or investigation, together with a recommendation as to disposition of the matter, to the Board of Directors for action.
Employees, officers and directors are expected to cooperate fully with any inquiry or investigation by Weiss Modelsregarding an alleged violation of this Code. Failure to cooperate with any such inquiry or investigation may result in disciplinary action, up to and including discharge. Weiss Models shall determine whether violations of this Code have occurred and, if so, shall determine the disciplinary measures to be taken against any employee who has violated this Code.
Failure of any Associate to comply with the standards outlined in this Code will result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to, reprimands, warnings, probation or suspension without pay, demotions, reductions in salary, discharge and restitution in accordance with applicable national laws. Certain violations of this Code may require Weiss Models to refer the matter to the appropriate governmental or regulatory authorities for investigation or prosecution. Moreover, any supervisor who directs or approves of any conduct in violation of this Code, or who has knowledge of such conduct and does not immediately report it, also will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.
While it is Weiss Models’ desire to address matters internally, nothing in this Code should discourage Associates from reporting any illegal activity, including any violation of laws, rule or regulation, to the appropriate regulatory authority. Furthermore, this Code should not be construed to prohibit any Associate from testifying, participating or otherwise assisting in any administrative, judicial or legislative proceeding or investigation.
Enactment – Implementation
This Code has been adopted by Weiss Models’ Board of Directors on 16th December 2019 in the English language.
Where there are different language versions of this document (if any), these shall be considered translations for convenience only and the English version will prevail in case of any discrepancy.
This Code shall be published on the website of Weiss Models. Each employee, officer and director shall certify that he or she has received, read and understood the Code. Each model, talent, contractor, consultant or agent shall consider this Code as a supplement to their contractual relationship with Weiss Models.
Weiss Models may provide reasonable assistance to the Associates in the implementation of this Code and may monitor such implementation using a variety of methods including audit and site visits to assess performance against this Code.
Weiss Models reserves the right to amend, alter or terminate this Code at any time for any reason.