ESG Governance, Compliance & Reporting
Overview
Embedding robust ESG governance, compliance and reporting principles is rarely linear. Every organization’s journey is different.
We understand where clients need to go and how they can get there safely, responsibly and sustainably.
Our pragmatic approach tailors advice to a client's industry, commercial goals and operational factors. We shape ESG policies and commitments, compliance procedures and reporting structures to create the foundation for success.
- Risk governance and compliance frameworks and policies (including those related to human rights/social risks)
- Policies, procedures and commitments related to responsible and sustainable business
- Directors duties and remuneration
- Due diligence and risk assessment
- Grievance mechanisms (including those related to labor and employment and responsible and sustainable business)
- Complaints and compensation processes
- Board committee composition, succession planning and diversity
- M&A expert reporting and impact statements
- Corporate governance under US securities laws and exchange listing requirements, including SEC ESG disclosure requirements
- Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)
- UK Corporate Governance Code and other statutory corporate governance obligations
- Cybersecurity and human capital management matters
- FCA CP22/20 on sustainability disclosure requirements and investment labels
- Bribery and corruption
- Anti-money laundering
- Sanctions
- Antitrust legislation compliance and corporate collaboration on sustainability objectives
- Compliance investigations
- Labor and employment
- Reporting under the Listing Rules and the Companies Act 2006
- ESG reporting under Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and EU Taxonomy
- Stakeholder reporting and engagement
- Institutional investor guidance
- Shareholder activism
Meet The Team
Partner and Leader, Securities and Corporate Governance, St. Louis
Partner, Paris
Partner, London
Related Practice Areas
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Securities & Corporate Governance
Experience
Major water utility company
Advised a major water infrastructure company on the drafting of their ESG report and policy. We also advised on their sustainability achievements regarding energy, waste, water usage and greenhouse gases.
We further reviewed the company’s corporate disclosures to allow for the implementation of their ESG policy. This is a continuous work in progress for our client and is based on stakeholder engagement and the company’s learning from its own operations, its suppliers and its customers.
Public and private companies' ESG advisory matters
We regularly advise public and private companies on a range of ESG advisory matters including corporate governance codes, directors’ duties, disclosure requirements, stakeholder engagement and director remuneration and incentivization. We will also often advise and provide board training on ESG reporting requirements for public companies which has involved advising on best practice for TCFD reporting and the new diversity listing rules. We are regularly involved in commenting on governance approaches, policies, and procedures such as committee terms of reference and disclosure policies.
AGM Preparation
We assist a number of companies in preparing for their AGMs. This involves advising on resolutions expected of institutional investors and the increasing ESG focus of the voting guidelines of their proxy advisers.
ESG risk including modern slavery and human trafficking reporting
Advising companies on their ESG risk including modern slavery and human trafficking reporting requirements in line with the Modern Slavery Act 2025. This includes advising on the requirements for drafting a Transparency statement under section 54, reviewing and drafting modern slavery policies and training materials, and advising on supply chain due diligence to ensure that supply chains are compliant with statutory obligations.
California SB 54 compliance
Advising numerous companies on compliance with California SB 54, which requires packaging and plastic food ware producers to join a producers responsibility organization (PRO), and requires the following by 2032:
- 25% source reduction in plastic single-use packaging and plastic food ware;
- 100% of all single-use packaging and plastic food ware is recyclable or compostable; and
- 65% of plastic single-use packaging and plastic food ware is being recycled.
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