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Day 1 – Corporate Social Responsibility Update – Recent Legal and Business Developments*
Evidence shows that steps taken to advance corporate citizenship improve financial performance. Providing
safe and clean working environments, reducing carbon outputs, engaging with local communities, and
implementing robust corporate governance policies are just some of the measures that can lead to sustainable
business and increased profits. A panel of industry leaders will discuss the importance of CSR and the issues
that matter most to customers, consumers, investors and other stakeholders.
CLE: 1.5 Professional Practice
Exploring current practice in the area of disclosure of non-financial information, a panel of experts will provide
an overview of the current legal framework for sustainability reporting, and will examine the advantages and
challenges encountered by companies in their efforts to voluntarily disclose their social and environmental
information. Panelists will explain how they are advising their clients on these matters and offer best practices
for effective enhanced disclosure.
CLE: 1.5 Professional Practice
Sustainable business practices provide gains for companies themselves, as well as enormous benefits to
society at large. This session will explore key opportunities and prospects for advancing environmental
sustainability while working through some of the legal and marketplace challenges companies encounter along
the way. Participants will hear from industry leaders and gain first hand insight into business models for valuing
natural capital and ecosystem services, and private sector responses to the challenge of climate change.
CLE: 2.0 Professional Practice
Exploring the performance and proliferation of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) indices
and sustainability exchange traded funds (ETFs), this session will examine how asset managers consider ESG
factors, and the role and value of ESG reporting and transparency regulations. A panel of sustainable
investment experts and professionals will present a range of viewpoints on the influence of ESG factors in
investment decisions, and barriers to investment including transparency issues, lack of data, and insufficient
insight into the importance investors place on responsible investment issues.
CLE: 1.5 Professional Practice
Day 2 – Developments in Business and Human Rights (UNGPs)*
International human rights law primarily governs State action in the promotion and protection of the human
rights of individuals. However, as the power and influence of multinational corporations has grown, in some
cases rivaling that of States, there are calls for companies to be held to the same international standards to
protect human rights. Providing an introduction to the theory and practice of international human rights law, this
session will highlight how this area of law forms part of the basis of corporate social responsibility norms and
will outline some of the main guidelines and initiatives that impact corporate activities.
CLE: 1.0 Professional Practice
More than two years have passed since 193 world leaders committed to the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), a set of 17 goals to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and address climate change. In
this session, experts from the international community will provide insights from the first years since the
adoption of the goals and discuss the critical role of law in the achievement of the SDGs. Panelists will also
examine how the SDGs are reframing corporate social responsibility and informing business contributions to
sustainable development, as well as highlighting some of the challenges that such engagement brings.
CLE: 1.5 Professional Practice
In light of increasing attention on the human rights impact and responsibilities of multinational corporations,
governments are beginning to enact human rights legislation to govern corporate activity. This session will
examine some of the developments in this area in the U.S., as well as developments in other jurisdictions that
impact U.S. corporations, with a focus on supply chain compliance and responsible sourcing, looking in
particular at anti-human trafficking and conflict minerals regulation.
CLE: 1.0 Professional Practice
Endorsed by the United Nations in 2011 and supported by civil society and the private sector alike, the Guiding
Principles on Business and Human Rights (GPs) set a global standard for corporations to prevent and remedy
adverse human rights impacts of business activity. Initially an area of attention for companies alone, the role of
lawyers in this field is expanding as they consider the human rights risks of their own legal practices as well as
developing dedicated human rights practices to advise their clients on these matters.
This session will first provide an in-depth analysis of the meaning, reach and impact of the new GPs, as well as
implementation in different countries around the world. Next, it will examine human rights due diligence in
practice, as well as corporate engagement with judicial and non-judicial remedy mechanisms. Finally, the
session will explore what the GPs mean for law firms as both advisers to corporate clients as well as business
enterprises in themselves, and will examine recent guidance produced by the International Bar Association.
CLE: 3.5 Skills
* Sessions and topics subject to change
