Key topics in Akin’s July 2024 Sustainability/ESG Policy and Regulatory Update include: Updated Assessment of SFDR by EU Regulators: The European Supervisory Authorities have proposed changes to the Sustainable Finance...more
8/2/2024
/ Corporate Governance ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Products ,
Greenwashing ,
NRDC ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
SFDR ,
Sustainability ,
UK
Key Points - On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, the SEC in a 3-2 vote adopted “The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors” (Final Rule). The Final Rule will require public companies to...more
3/12/2024
/ Annual Reports ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Final Rules ,
Financial Statements ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Risk Management ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Shareholders ,
Transparency
Akin’s newsletter on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) policy and regulatory developments, provides a timely digest of ESG topics, news items and other relevant information regarding significant ESG policy...more
3/7/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Final Rules ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Policy Updates ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Sustainability ,
UNFCCC
On May 2, 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed into law House Bill 3 (HB3), legislation that, among other things, blocks the consideration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in state and local investment...more
In light of anticipated lawsuits, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler is reportedly considering rolling back the commission’s proposed climate-risk disclosure rule. Meanwhile, House Republicans...more
Legislation to “prevent corporate greenwashing” by requiring major companies doing business in California to publicly disclose their scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has cleared two critical committees....more
Two recent rulings by California state court judges have struck-down California statutes that were intended to foster diversity at California-based public companies. In the first case, Crest v. Padilla, No. 20-STCV-37513...more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) proposed amendments on climate-related disclosures would require public companies, or “registrants,” to provide detailed climate-related information in their registration...more
On March 30, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Examinations (the “Division”) released its 2022 examination priorities. The Division announced an enhanced focus on five “significant areas”:...more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Examinations (the “Division”), on March 30, 2022, released its 2022 examination priorities (the “Division’s 2022 priorities”), highlighting the “annual...more
Key Points -
On Monday, March 21, 2022, the SEC in a 3-1 vote proposed amendments to require public companies to provide certain climate-related information in their registration statements and annual reports. The...more
Recent rulings underscore the attention boards of directors and management must continue to pay to the risks faced by companies across all sectors of the economy and their potential impact on business operations...more
2021: ESG On Center Stage -
As we approach the end of a watershed year, we are struck by the rapid evolution and intensification of all things ESG (environmental, social and governance). Virtually every segment of the...more
1/7/2022
/ Business Strategies ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation ,
Sustainability ,
UNFCCC
Last week, the Division of Corporation Finance (Corp Fin) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published an illustrative letter that provides samples of comments, which the SEC may issue to companies regarding...more
This special episode features “Emergence of ESG Transparency,” a webinar featuring two heads of Akin Gump’s ESG group—partners Stacey Mitchell in D.C. and Amy Kennedy in London—along with London partner Ezra Zahabi.
Among...more
In this episode, Akin Gump’s Amy Kennedy and Stacey Mitchell, two of the firm’s ESG group co-heads, walk listeners through environmental, social and governance considerations for business.
Among the topics covered:
- U.S....more
3/26/2021
/ Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Green Bonds ,
Green Loans ,
Investors ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainability-Linked Loans (SLLs)
Yesterday, we wrote about the potential impact of the nomination of so-called “Money Cop” Gary Gensler to chair the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Well, now it appears that Gensler will have a new sheriff on...more
Key Points
- Mandatory ESG requirements could be an early priority for SEC chair nominee Gary Gensler, with increasing calls from within the SEC to require material ESG risk disclosures.
- The EU recently implemented...more
2/3/2021
/ Business Strategies ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Sustainability ,
UK
- DOJ’s update offers additional insights into its approach to evaluating corporate compliance programs.
- The update places emphasis on compliance programs that are continuously improving, data driven and supported with...more
6/12/2020
/ Acquisitions ,
Chief Compliance Officers ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Misconduct ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Due Diligence ,
Mergers ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Risk Assessment ,
Risk Management ,
Third-Party Risk
- The COVID-19 crisis poses new challenges for companies seeking to manage ESG risks during a period of significant business disruption.
- Employers need creative solutions to protect their remote and limited workforces...more
3/31/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Governance ,
Crisis Management ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Security ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Health and Safety ,
Remote Working ,
Risk Assessment ,
Risk Management ,
Workplace Safety
- On February 25, 2020, SASB unanimously approved a standard-setting project that will clarify and improve metrics used to measure performance on sustainable raw materials sourcing in the apparel, accessories and footwear...more