In February 2024, the IBA North American Regional Forum and the Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL) convened the IBA’s second ESG Conference at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, New York. The conference featured expert panellists from across private practice, civil society, academia, ratings agencies and multilateral development banks, on topics including:
- Global ESG trends and hot takes – the Brussels effect, the backlash, the view from Africa and more
- ESG, politics, noise and business – helping clients to focus on what is important and to ignore the rest
- Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) – how to help clients manage the ‘S’ in ESG
- Due diligence and ESG – identifying new requirements and key risks for clients
- Chief Sustainability Officer/Climate Officer/Chief ESG Officer – what’s the role and what’s the challenge? How are departments organised? What are the hallmarks of effective leadership?
In the May 2024 edition of the Sustainable Law in Action podcast, Sara Carnegie, IBA Legal Projects Director, and barrister Melissa Murphy KC, speak with expert panellists at the IBA’s 2024 ESG Conference about the role of lawyers in the ESG space, and the challenges and opportunities facing businesses and law firms in this evolving and increasingly politicised area.
Soundbites from the 2024 IBA ESG Conference
Short on time? Listen to soundbites from our conversations with expert panellists at the 2024 ESG Conference below.
Listen: Sarah Fitts
Seasoned transaction lawyer, with emphasis on energy and infrastructure.
Listen: Christopher Stephens
Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the World Bank Group.
Listen: John Sherman
Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Hoffman Center for Business Ethics at Bentley University
Listen: Senator Doug Jones
American attorney and former U.S. senator for Alabama, where he served from 2017 to 2021.
