E²: Examining ESG + Legal Risks

Companies are starting to be more intentional about corporate footprints whether that’s choosing vendors, reviewing their supply chain process and in general, how they conduct business. For many law firms, purposeful activity is revealed via pro bono projects. Often these come through legal aid organizations. Unfortunately, eight out of every ten people who ask for help are turned away due to lack of resources.How does a law firm choose the kinds of pro bono projects it wants to take on and what are the most common? Some firms are considering “impact litigation” in an effort to go beyond helping individuals and targeting legal issues that involve systemic problems facing our communities – cases that make an even larger impact. Shook, Hardy & Bacon Chair Madeleine McDonough speaks with Partner Scot Fishman, the director of pro bono as part of Shook’s Environmental Social and Governance podcast series, E2 – Examining ESG + litigation risks.Shook has 18 offices in the United States and London, with attorneys and professional staff serving clients in the health, science and technology sectors in areas ranging from product liability defense and commercial litigation to intellectual property prosecution and litigation, environmental and toxic tort, privacy and data security, and regulatory counseling.

The pandemic accelerated the way in which businesses function. The transition to flexible ways of working was already underway when the pandemic began, but globally, businesses were forced by circumstance to implement more flexible ways of working very quickly. Swift implementation – most often without a comprehensive legal framework – has, in part, compounded the problem. Having the technology to be able to work away from traditional places of work is amazing, but the drawbacks have been widely documented, particularly the phenomenon of being “on call” 24/7; the “always on culture.” The legal profession is just one example of how things have changed. Shook, Hardy & Bacon’s Chair Madeleine McDonough explores the issue with London Solicitor/Partner Alison Newstead for a global look at how countries around the world view the “Right to Disconnect” as part of our Environmental, Social and Governance podcast series, E2 – Examining ESG + litigation risks.Shook has 18 offices in the United States and London, with attorneys and professional staff serving clients in the health, science and technology sectors in areas ranging from product liability defense and commercial litigation to intellectual property prosecution and litigation, environmental and toxic tort, privacy and data security, and regulatory counseling.

Stakeholders, clients and customers are asking more from their favorite companies. It’s no longer enough to produce a quality product. Whether you’re a seasoned general counsel for a large company or part of an in-house legal team, companies need to be aware of increasing ESG risks. Shook, Hardy & Bacon, a premier trial firm, has developed a podcast series, E2 – Examining ESG + litigation risks. Shook Chair Madeleine McDonough speaks to Shook Partner Phil Goldberg for an overview of ESG legal trends in the area of climate change. Phil serves as co-chair of Shook’s Public Policy Practice and leads the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. His practice involves counseling businesses and their trade associations on some of the most cutting edge liability issues of the day. 

How well do you understand your own company’s ESG footprint? The Environmental Social Governance rubric is vast and impacts a wide swath of company functions touching financial, sustainability, board composition, diversity and inclusion goals, and privacy. Shook, Hardy & Bacon, a premier trial firm, has developed a podcast series, E2 – Examining ESG + litigation risks. Shook Chair Madeleine McDonough speaks to Shook Partner John Lewis, Jr. for an overview of ESG legal trends. John is the managing partner of Shook’s Houston office and serves clients with a busy business litigation practice and leads the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives. John brings an in-house perspective from his time at Coca Cola where he led global litigation. As chief litigation counsel, he defended company directors and officers in shareholder derivative cases and advised senior management on all aspects of legal-risk management strategy. 

From Main Street to boardrooms across America, stakeholders, clients and customers are asking more from their preferred companies, particularly in the environmental area. Whether you’re a seasoned general counsel for a large company or part of an in-house legal team, companies need to be aware of increasing legal trends including greenwashing claims to consideration for carbon reduction initiatives. In 2020 alone, more than 1,000 companies pledged to reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by a certain date in accordance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement. Shook, Hardy & Bacon, a premier trial firm, has developed a podcast series examining some of today’s most pressing issues for employers. In episode two of E2 – Examining ESG + litigation risks, Shook Chair Madeleine McDonough speaks to Shook Partner Tom Grever, an environmental lawyer, about these issues for companies. 

Podcast 1 – ESG Overview and Supply Chain IssuesStakeholders, clients and customers are asking more from their favorite companies. It’s no longer enough to produce a good product. Whether you’re a seasoned general counsel for a large company or part of an in-house legal team, companies need to be aware of increasing ESG risks. Shook, Hardy & Bacon, a premier trial firm, has developed a podcast series, E2 – Examining ESG + litigation risks. Shook Chair Madeleine McDonough speaks to Shook Partner Veronica Gromada for an overview of ESG legal trends. Veronica served as in-house counsel for Walmart and has a deep understanding of business operations and supply chain issues. Shook has 18 offices in the United States and London, with attorneys and professional staff serving clients in the health, science and technology sectors in areas ranging from product liability defense and commercial litigation to intellectual property prosecution and litigation, environmental and toxic tort, privacy and data security, and regulatory counseling.