Navigating the Landscape of Evolving ESG Developments (ELI Master Class)

Where

Webinar only

An ELI and Greenberg Traurig LLP Co-Sponsored Master Class Webinar

For years, businesses and investors have applied Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors to identify material risks and growth opportunities and demand for investment products and financial services. And for years, corporate and investor ESG strategies and analyses have relied on unenforceable, voluntary standards. But that voluntary framework is changing.

In the United States, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published a proposed rule on March 21, 2022 that for the first time would require public companies and other mandatory filers to report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and provide a detailed description of their climate risk management system, among other things. This proposed Climate Disclosure Rule represents the biggest change in public company reporting since enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002.

Meanwhile, the European Union is implementing its own set of compulsory climate reporting and accounting rules, including the Non-Financial Reporting Directive, which requires social responsibility reporting from identified large companies, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will put a carbon price on the import of certain products to avoid so-called “carbon leakage.”

Enforceable standards such as these are coming at breakneck speed, as businesses – especially those with global operations – endeavor to understand and develop systems that meet the requirements. All this is occurring at the same time that ESG-related litigation is growing, with disgruntled shareholders challenging corporate statements as greenwashing and consumers bringing unfair trade practice suits.

How will your company meet the challenge? What steps has it taken and what steps remain to be taken? This signature ELI Master Class will identify valuable tools and approaches for implementing ESG programs, reporting ESG metrics, and identifying and mitigating ESG litigation risks. Join ELI and leading experts for an exploration of the best practices and case studies providing key takeaways for participants on the ESG frontlines.

AGENDA

1:00 – 2:00 PM	Panel 1: ESG Reporting This panel will address how to implement systems that facilitate compliant ESG reporting. Leading panelists will review the evolution and current state of ESG Reporting to the SEC, Lenders and Funds, Investment Advisors, Public Company Disclosures, and other public filings. Understand how ESG Reporting is changing industry and strive to avoid pitfalls, such as Wells Notices and Whistleblower activities. Panelists: Arthur Don, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, Moderator Elaine C. Greenberg, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig Karli Anderson, EVP, Chief Environmental, Safety & Governance Officer and Head of Investor Relations, Summit Materials, Inc Casey Herman, Partner and Lead, National ESG Practice, PwC
2:00 – 2:15 PM	Break
2:15 – 3:15 PM	Panel 2: ESG Litigation With ESG’s increased visibility, associated litigation risks are growing. This panel will examine those risks as revealed in recent ESG case decisions and review strategies, like audits and communications discipline, to mitigate them. Panelists: Kaitlyn Maxwell, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, Moderator Christopher J. Neumann, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig Lisa Benjamin, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Law, Lewis & Clark Law School Jamie Gamble, Managing Director, PwC
3:15 – 3:30 PM	Break
3:30 – 4:30 PM	Panel 3: Establishing Internal ESG Systems, Cross-borders ESG Reporting, and Disclosure Requirements This panel will focus on the challenges and opportunities that arise from establishing and upholding effective ESG systems. While many reporting frameworks exist and are used by large organizations, differences in reporting standards are a leading challenge faced by multinational corporations, investors, and stakeholders. Leading panelists will address the challenges ESG systems face and explore best practices. Panelists: Christopher Bell, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, Moderator Bernadette M. Rappold, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig Doug Parker, Co-founder and CEO, Ecolumix Benne Hutson, Director, ESG, and Deputy General Counsel, EnPro Industries Inc.

Materials:
ELI members will have access to any materials and a recording of this session (usually posted within 1-3 business days). If you are not an ELI member but would like to have access to archived sessions like this one, please see the many benefits of membership and how to join.

CLE INFORMATION:

Webinar CLE Attendees (you must have selected CLE info when you registered):

When watching the webinar you will need to have the webinar at the forefront of your computer screen as Zoom will be tracking attentiveness and creating an attentiveness report.
You will need to be watching the webinar for a majority of the time to receive CLE Credit.
We will email you the CLE information and certification within one week of the event.

Events like this one are made possible by the support of ELI Associate Members.
For more information on the many benefits of individual membership, please go HERE.