2021 ESG Developments
In the aftermath of the initial effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, many wondered if the key ESG issues brought to light in 2020 would be pushed aside in the new year. Instead, as we expected, ESG issues assumed greater prominence and consideration by regulators, employees, customers and other stakeholders in 2021. Organizations
Dave Curran, ESG and Law Institute executive director and co-chair of the Paul, Weiss ESG Advisory Practice, and Paul, Weiss Chairman Brad Karp co-authored a column, “The ESG Outlook for 2022,” published in ALM Corporate Counsel. The authors discuss the major ESG trends of 2021, including increasing regulatory scrutiny and rising shareholder activism, as
Dave Curran, ESG and Law Institute executive director and co-chair of the Paul, Weiss ESG Advisory Practice, and corporate partner Laura Turano, co-authored a column, “When It Comes to ESG, You’re Only as Strong as Your Weakest Link,” in ALM Corporate Counsel.
The authors discuss the key role that lawyers play in spotting ESG-related
Dave Curran, ESG and Law Institute executive director and co-chair of the Paul, Weiss ESG Advisory Practice, and Paul, Weiss executive compensation partner Jean McLoughlin wrote an article published in NACD Private Company Directorship on November 21. The article, “Tying Pre-IPO Compensation to ESG Commitments,” discusses the steps emerging, pre-IPO companies should take to develop
On October 27, Paul, Weiss hosted a virtual, senior-level roundtable, “ESG Intersects with PE: Practical ESG Considerations for Private Equity,” with general counsel, chief compliance officers and other C-suite executives from top private equity firms. Sustainability & ESG Advisory Practice Co-Chair Dave Curran, who moderated the conversation, was joined by corporate partners Jeremy Veit and
Dave Curran, ESG and Law Institute executive director and co-chair of the Paul, Weiss ESG Advisory Practice, contributed to market intelligence consultancy Investor Update’s white paper, “The Corporate ESG Guide: The ESG Landscape and Economies in Transition.” Dave was interviewed as one of more than 50 corporate leaders, investors, regulators, advisors and rating agencies from
The Sustainability and ESG Advisory practice published a white paper, “2020 U.S. Policymaker ESG Primer,” in partnership with Refinitiv, one of the world’s largest providers of financial markets data and infrastructure. The primer, intended for investors, regulators and policymakers, provides foundational knowledge of what constitutes ESG, identifies what data is available and what data still needs to be collected, and highlights the frameworks and standards that currently exist. The primer is the only EGS-focused white paper being circulated over the next few weeks to incoming policymakers and senior government officials and advisors, many of whom may not have substantial knowledge of the topic.
Continue Reading Paul, Weiss Publishes 2020 U.S. Policymaker ESG Primer in Partnership With Refinitiv
Dave Curran, Co-Chair of the Sustainability and ESG Advisory Practice at Paul, Weiss and Executive Director of the ESG and Law Institute, co-authored a column, “Hiring the ESG Dream Team,” with Amelia Miazad, head of Berkeley Law’s Business in Society Institute in ALM Corporate Counsel on September 30.
The authors discuss the challenges law
“ESG” describes a set of environmental, social and governance factors used to measure sustainability and long-term value beyond traditional financial measures. ESG topics increasingly are the focus of asset managers, asset owners such as pension funds and insurance companies, and other investors, as well as proxy advisory firms, index providers, regulators and rating agencies. ESG themes now routinely figure on agendas of corporate boards of directors and corporate management teams.
There is no single definition of ESG and no single set of ESG standards or metrics. We highlight below the topics commonly covered within the three categories of ESG and provide definitions of some of the key terms used in ESG disclosures, reports and regulations.
Continue Reading ESG Lexicon
2020 ESG Trends: In a year overshadowed by the Covid-19 global pandemic, many questioned whether the momentum ESG experienced leading up to the crisis was sustainable, or if companies would decide to focus on other priorities. That concern was laid to rest when the pandemic was followed rapidly by protests focused on racial and social injustice and other unrest, and ESG initiatives continued to be prominent in both the public and private sectors. ESG has proven to have genuine staying power with an array of very influential stakeholders, including governments, investors, employees, activists, NGOs and related constituencies taking up the mantle. We examine some of the key trends in ESG investments, reporting standards and regulatory regimes during 2020:
Continue Reading Sustainability & ESG Year in Review: Key Takeaways