We are pleased to share the January-February 2024 issue of Wilson Sonsini's Sustainability and ESG Advisory Practice Update. Each issue combines news, key legal developments, and resources related to sustainability and...more
We are pleased to share the December 2023 issue of Wilson Sonsini’s Sustainability and ESG Advisory Practice Update. Each issue combines news, key legal developments, and resources related to sustainability and environmental,...more
As the new year approaches, many companies will need to make sure that their websites include disclosure by January 1, 2024, that complies with California Assembly Bill No. 1305 (AB 1305). AB 1305 is the only law among the...more
We are pleased to share the November 2023 issue of Wilson Sonsini's Sustainability and ESG Advisory Practice Update. Each issue combines news, key legal developments, and resources related to sustainability and environmental,...more
We are pleased to share the October 2023 issue of Wilson Sonsini's Sustainability and ESG Advisory Practice Update. Each issue combines news, key legal developments, and resources related to sustainability and environmental,...more
10/27/2023
/ California ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Financial Accounting Standards Board ,
Nasdaq ,
Sustainability
In the past few days, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed three bills that will require companies and investors to provide new disclosure.
Climate Disclosure -
On October 7, 2023, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill...more
10/12/2023
/ California ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Diversity ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Governor Newsom ,
New Legislation ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Venture Capital
If U.S. congressional leaders are unable to resolve the current federal budget standoff, it is expected that much of the federal government, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), would shut down soon...more
California Legislature Passes Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act -
Earlier this month, the California legislature approved SB 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253). Starting in 2026, “reporting...more
9/29/2023
/ Africa ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
G20 ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
South Korea ,
Sustainability ,
UK
This week, the California legislature approved Senate Bill 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253), and Senate Bill 261, Greenhouse gases: climate-related financial risk (SB 261), which are headed to...more
On June 26, 2023, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) published its first two sustainability disclosure standards, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS S1) – General Requirement for Disclosure...more
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Adopts Major Generator Interconnection Reforms -
Last month, FERC Commissioners unanimously approved Order No. 2023 (the Order), which represents a significant reform to its...more
8/31/2023
/ Biden Administration ,
CEQ ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
European Commission ,
FERC ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
New Zealand ,
Popular ,
Shareholders ,
Sustainability ,
Tokyo Stock Exchange
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Completes the Launch of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Opportunities -
On July 14, 2023, the EPA announced two notice of funding opportunities for up to $20 billion. Up to $14 billion...more
7/28/2023
/ China ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Delaware ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
European Commission ,
France ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Sustainability ,
UK ,
USPTO
SEC Publishes Spring 2023 Regulatory Agenda -
On June 13, 2023, Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Gary Gensler announced the release of the SEC’s Spring 2023 Regulatory Agenda (the Regulatory...more
7/28/2023
/ Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Delaware ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Department of the Interior ,
Department of Transportation (DOT) ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
IRS ,
Japan ,
Popular ,
Proxy Statements ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Sustainability ,
U.S. Treasury
On June 27, 2023, Vice Chancellor Lori Will of the Delaware Court of Chancery issued a much-anticipated decision addressing the obligations of the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company (Disney) in overseeing Disney’s...more
6/30/2023
/ Board of Directors ,
Books & Records ,
Delaware General Corporation Law ,
Disney ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Florida ,
Gay Rights ,
Governor DeSantis ,
Shareholder Litigation ,
Shareholders
Overview of EU “Fit for 55” The European Union (EU) recently enacted five laws in furtherance of its “Fit for 55” legislative package, which aims to ensure that EU policies are in line with EU’s climate targets of reducing...more
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) entered into force on January 5, 2023. The CSRD significantly broadens the existing EU regime for non-financial disclosure requirements currently governed by...more
As we enter the 2023 proxy season, there are a number of new regulatory requirements, both technical and substantive, that have been implemented, and many more on the horizon. For example, many companies will need to comply...more
2/10/2023
/ Board of Directors ,
Corporate Governance ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Glass Lewis ,
Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) ,
Proxy Advisory Firms ,
Proxy Season ,
Proxy Voting Guidelines ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Shareholders
On December 14, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved final rules amending Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) to impose additional conditions to the availability of...more
On December 13, 2022, the staff (Staff) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued updates and additional explanations to its Non-GAAP Financial Measures Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations (the...more
Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A). MD&A rules require companies to “describe any known trends or uncertainties that have had or that are reasonably likely to have a material favorable or unfavorable impact on net...more
On November 17, 2022, Glass Lewis released its 2023 U.S. Policy Guidelines (U.S. Guidelines) and its 2023 ESG Initiatives Policy Guidelines (ESG Guidelines), effective for shareholder meetings on or after January 1, 2023. On...more
12/14/2022
/ Board of Directors ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Diversity ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Glass Lewis ,
Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) ,
Proxy Season ,
Proxy Voting Guidelines ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Shareholders
On October 7, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it will reopen the public comment periods for 11 rulemaking releases and one request for comment due to a technological error that resulted...more
On March 21, 2022, a divided U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed enhanced and standardized climate-related disclosure rules to require disclosure of climate-related information in registration statements,...more
On December 15, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed rules governing issuers' equity share repurchases. Proposed Rule 13a-21 would require more detailed and significantly more frequent disclosure...more
On December 15, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed amendments to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) to introduce new requirements for Rule 10b5-1 trading plans...more