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Join us in person in New York
Join your peers at Legal ESG: New York - November 15th & 16th, 2023 - to discuss, debate, and examine the future of ESG across the legal profession.
OVERVIEW
The Legal Profession Stands at an Intersection.
As society grapples with urgent environmental, social, and governance issues, the role of law firms in addressing these challenges is under the microscope. The question is no longer whether law firms should engage with ESG but how they can do so effectively, authentically, and holistically.
ESG has become a critical and strategic priority for the legal profession, and law firms must take a proactive approach in serving their clients and ensuring their firm’s own ESG practices align with stakeholder demands.
- How is the current ESG landscape reshaping today's legal profession?
- Should foreign ESG regulations concern US-based businesses?
- How is the legal profession navigating the politics of ESG?
- Why is ESG influencing talent recruitment, retention, workforce management, and employee engagement?
- How will AI and ESG converge in the legal profession?
- What impact will regulatory changes, litigation trends, and climate crises have on firms and their clients?
Legal ESG: New York, taking place November 15th & 16th, is an opportunity for law firm leaders, lawyers, the clients they serve, and today’s leading ESG experts to come together, learn from each other, and drive forward the ESG agenda. It's a chance to reflect on the progress that has been made, confront the challenges that lie ahead, and commit to a future where ESG is a fundamental part of the legal profession and those we serve.
Join us this November for Legal ESG: New York as law firms and legal service providers, in house counsel and legal operations, and today’s ESG thought leaders shape the future of ESG across the legal profession.
Don't miss your chance to contribute to the conversation and to be part of this landmark event -
confirm your place today
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HIGHLIGHTS
2 Days
Join your peers at the Legal ESG: New York as the legal profession comes together for two full days of discussion, debate, and examination of the most critical ESG challenges that law firms and their clients face.
30+ Speakers
Get insight, analysis, and perspectives from across the legal ESG ecosystem.
12 Unique Sessions
- Keynote presentations
- In-depth case studies
- Diverse panel discussions
- Peer-to-Peer Networking
- and more...
VENUE
Legal ESG: New York will be hosted at the New York office of our lead partner Clifford Chance:
31 West 52nd Street, 4th Floor,
New York, NY, 10019
Tuesday: November 14th
AGENDA
7:00 PM
US Eastern Time
Pre-Event Dinner
SPONSORED BY
GreenPlaces
DAY 1
Wednesday: November 15th
All times are listed in US Eastern Time:
San Francisco -2 / Chicago -1 / New York 0 / London +5 / Zurich +6 / Moscow +7 / Tokyo +13 / Sydney +14
8:00 AM –
8:45 AM
US Eastern Time
Breakfast
SPONSORED BY
Green Project Technologies
8:45 AM –
9:00 AM
US Eastern Time
Chairperson's Introduction and Opening Remarks
CHAIR
Pamela Cone
CEO
Amity Advisory
9:00 AM –
9:30 AM
US Eastern Time
Keynote / Welcome Address
SPEAKER
Sharis Pozen
Regional Managing Partner, Americas, Co-Chair, Global Antitrust Group
Clifford Chance
10:00 am – 11:00 am
US Eastern Time
State of the Union:
ESG Across Today’s Legal Profession
In today's rapidly evolving global environment, the legal profession stands at a pivotal intersection, tasked with understanding and addressing the multifaceted dimensions of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters.
This session offers a comprehensive exploration of prevailing ESG trends shaping the legal discourse, balanced by the challenges and opportunities they present. It will address the emerging “Anti-ESG” backlash phenomenon and explore its origins and implications. We will offer a deep dive into the ever-evolving regulatory landscape, from regional mandates to global directives, highlighting the profound impact they have on the legal profession's approach to ESG – both in advising clients and as part of their clients’ supply chains
MODERATOR
Pamela Cone
Social Impact and Sustainability Sage
Amity Advisory
PANEL
Gina Passerella
Senior Vice President, Content
ALM
Gabriela Ocampo Ucha
Manager, Transformational Governance
United Nations Global Compact
Fady Hanalla
Senior Counsel
Wells Fargo
11:30 AM –
12:30 PM
US Eastern Time
Building an authentic ESG Culture
Building an authentic ESG culture within the legal profession is paramount. This session delves into strategic approaches to cultivate a genuine ESG culture, emphasizing the delicate balance of communication—avoiding the pitfalls of "Green Hushing" while ensuring ESG initiatives are neither oversold nor undersold. Attendees will gain practical insights and best practices to embed ESG values deeply within their firms, fostering a culture that not only talks the talk but walks the ESG walk with integrity and purpose.
MODERATOR
Natalie Runyon
ESG Strategist & Consultant Thomson Reuters
PANEL
Michelle Williams
Partner
Clifford Chance
Miriam Wrobel
Senior Managing Director, Global Leader, ESG & Sustainability
FTI Consulting
Christine Uri
Founder
ESG for In-house
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
US Eastern Time
Networking
Lunch
1:30 PM –
2:30 PM
US Eastern Time
Addressing the Regulatory Complexities of ESG
Politics, regulators and ESG are increasingly becoming intertwined, and the legal profession finds itself at the nexus of advocacy, responsibility and change.
This session will address the complex interplay between regulatory trends and sustainability practices, highlighting the challenges and opportunities they present. As ESG conversations with clients become more nuanced, legal professionals must adeptly navigate discussions with various clientele.
The session will also shed light on the strategic considerations involved in client communication and selection, while ensuring alignment with a firm's sustainability values and objectives.
Christina Bartholomew
Co-Founder
Stories Evolved
Tim Wilkins
Global Partner for Client Sustainability
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Kyle Goehring
Head of Sustainability
Turner & Townsend
Amma Anaman
Senior Associate General Counsel & Legal Relationship Manager, U.S. Listings
Nasdaq
3:00 PM –
4:00 PM
US Eastern Time
From Legal Counsel to ESG Advocate: The Evolving Role of GCs
As ESG regulation and the public’s sustainability concerns grow, legal leaders across industries increasingly contribute as advocates on ESG strategy, reporting and employee engagement.
Carbon transition, social equity, and many ethical concerns necessitate cross-functional collaboration in most companies, and the GC is in a unique position to contribute as part of her role to spot and mitigate risks, uphold the company's reputation and satisfy multiple stakeholders.
We’ll hear from corporate legal chiefs in diverse sectors about how they are advocating for ESG both within and beyond the organization.
E. Leigh Dance
Founder and Executive Director Global Counsel Leaders
Amy Hermalik
ESG Counsel
General Motors
4:30 PM –
5:30 PM
US Eastern Time
The Social Pillar:
ESG's Impact on Legal Workforce
Social responsibility is no longer optional, understanding the 'S' in ESG is crucial for the legal workforce. This session will discuss the social component of ESG, exploring its far-reaching implications for workforce management, diversity, inclusion, and employee engagement within law firms.
Leila Hock
Chief Strategy and Operations Officer
Diversity Lab
Deneen Donnley
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
Katie Stowe
Associate Director - Diversity & Inclusion Client Programs
Norton Rose Fulbright
5:30 PM –
6:00 PM
US Eastern Time
Closing Remarks / Q&A / Day 1 Wrap Up
CHAIR
Pamela Cone
ESG and Sustainability Sage
Amity Advisory
6:00 PM –
7:00 PM
US Eastern Time
Legal ESG: New York
Networking Reception
DAY 2
Thursday: November 16th
All times are listed in US Eastern Time:
San Francisco -2 / Chicago -1 / New York 0 / London +5 / Zurich +6 / Moscow +7 / Tokyo +13 / Sydney +14
8:00 AM –
8:45 AM
US Eastern Time
Breakfast
SPONSORED BY
Green Project Technologies
8:45 AM –
9:00 AM
US Eastern Time
Chairperson's Introduction and Opening Remarks
CHAIR
Pamela Cone
CEO
Amity Advisory
9:00 AM –
9:30 AM
US Eastern Time
Keynote / Opening Address
From Intent to Impact:
Navigating an Authentic Sustainability Journey
An informative, engaging presentation sharing the best practices that leading legal professionals and their organizations are utilizing internally and externally to drive breakthrough success in the new business environment.
SPEAKER
Adam Braun
CEO
Climate Club
NY Times Bestseller
Founder
Pencils of Promise
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM
US Eastern Time
Algorithmic Disruption:
The Convergence of AI and ESG in the Legal Profession
In the rapidly evolving landscape of both artificial intelligence (AI) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations, their intersection presents a compelling new frontier for the legal profession.
This panel will explore how AI will be leveraged to enhance ESG practices, from data collection and risk assessment to decision-making and reporting. It will examine broader ethical considerations, bias, transparency, and how AI will further amplify inequalities.
SPEAKERS
Christine Uri
Founder
ESG for In-house
David Curran
Co-Chair, Sustainability & ESG Advisory Practice
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Ilona Logvinova
Associate General Counsel, McKinsey Digital, and Head of Innovation for McKinsey Legal,
McKinsey & Company
James McPhillips
Partner
Clifford Chance
Mike Stiller
New Initiatives
Nasdaq
11:15 AM -
12:15 PM
US Eastern Time
Current state of play:
How Law Firms are Adopting Responsible Business Strategies
Law firms face many choices as they develop their responsible business strategies, as they try to navigate the needs and desires of their different stakeholders at the same time as managing limited budgets. Drawing on in-depth analysis of 125 large law firms, this session will reveal how approaches differ on each side of the Atlantic, what’s best practice and what strategies are becoming table stakes for any firm who wants to be seen as a credible responsible law firm.
The analysis has shown that many firms are either green-washing or green-hushing – there is a communications gap which most firms need to address. We will also draw a comparison to the big Four and other leading professional services firms, to show where the leading law firms might have to go next. The session will also draw on research from global surveys of clients of and talent at law firms, revealing how they see their firms performing against today’s responsible business expectations, and suggest ways in-house departments can work proactively with their law firms to engender positive change.
SPEAKERS
Lisa Hart Shepherd
Chief Executive Officer
Lamp House Strategy
Jo Summers
Chief Client Officer
Lamp House Strategy
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
US Eastern Time
Networking
Lunch
1:15 PM –
2:00 PM
US Eastern Time
The Environmental Imperative:
How the Climate Crisis is Reshaping the Practice and Business of Law
As the climate crisis intensifies, its ripple effects are felt across all sectors, including the legal profession. This session offers a deep dive into the environmental impact of climate change on law, examining current climate trends, the insurance industry's evolving role, and the latest regulatory and litigation developments.
We'll also explore the legal profession's adaptability in this new environmental paradigm. Attendees will gain a nuanced understanding of how climate change is not just an environmental issue but a complex legal challenge requiring innovative solutions and adaptive strategies.
SPEAKERS
Alex Lassiter
Founder & CEO
GreenPlaces
Vidhya Prabhakaran
Partner
Davis Wright Tremaine
Andrew Shaw
Partner
Dentons
2:15 PM –
3:15 PM
US Eastern Time
The Governance of ESG:
An In-House Perspective
In a landscape increasingly influenced by ESG-related legal requirements, ESG corporate governance and compliance are of prime importance. Yet these legal requirements have the potential for complexities as one regulator's concerns may be another regulator's priorities.
This session delves into how in-house counsel from a variety of sectors may consider and address the dilemmas arising from ESG governance, risk, and compliance questions facing their organizations.
MODERATOR
Steve Nickelsburg
Partner
Clifford Chance
PANEL
Amy Hermalik
ESG Counsel
General Motors
Taylor Hoffman
Senior Legal Counsel-Litigation
Swiss Re
Alison Proshan
Strategic Counsel
McKinsey & Company
3:30 PM –
4:00 PM
US Eastern Time
Law Firms and Carbon Disclosure:
Best Practices in a New Era of Climate Regulation
SPEAKERS
Sam Stark
Founder and CEO
Green Project Technologies
4:15 PM –
5:15 PM
US Eastern Time
Cross-Border ESG:
The Impact of Foreign Regulations on US businesses
With today's interconnected global economy, the influence of foreign ESG regulations on U.S. based businesses is more significant than ever. This session provides an in-depth examination of how international ESG standards and regulations are shaping the compliance landscape for U.S. enterprises.
MODERATOR
Michael Littenberg
Partner
Ropes & Gray
PANEL
Christina Bartholomew
Co-Founder
Stories Evolved
Stephen Pike
Corporate and ESG Law Partner
Gowling WLG
Bruno Camargo
ESG partner & head of LATAM Desk
Liance Legal
Founder
Camargo Legal
5:15 PM –
5:30 PM
US Eastern Time
Closing Remarks / Q&A / Day 2 Wrap Up
REGISTRATION
Less than 20 places are still available
Additional team rates are available in request, please contact us for more information.
Individual Registration
Full event access for 1 participant Includes access to all:
- Conference sessions
- Networking sessions
- Event recordings
$1,495
PLEASE NOTE
There are a limited number of delegate places at Legal ESG: New York. Don't miss your chance to contribute to the conversation and to be part of this landmark event.
TRAVEL
We’re pleased to announce that we’ve teamed up with Goodwings for Legal ESG: New York.
By giving attendees free access to this sustainable travel booking platform, we’re proud to be taking the necessary steps to reduce the impact of our events.
Goodwings is an impact-driven Travel Management system that helps companies travel more responsibly. Goodwings makes it easy and affordable for businesses to reduce the impact of their travel by:
+ Helping them choose more responsible travel options
+ Tracking their full trip emissions
+ Paying to reduce and offset those emissions for free
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