Following the celebration of the five-year anniversary of the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December 2020, Europe stands out as one of the leaders in developing policies that support the goals of the Paris Agreement, providing frameworks for companies and investors alike to redirect capital flows toward environmentally sustainable activities, as well as various mechanisms to alleviate the social impact of the transition to a greener economy.
Continue Reading Progress Since Paris: Sustainable Policy in Europe in 2020 and Beyond
Corporate Law
Crisis Management in Unprecedented Times
For companies and boards managing crises or cross-border matters, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges that in many ways fundamentally change how we think of crisis management. However, managing through COVID- 19 has illustrated the importance of many of the fundamentals that underpin good crisis planning and management in any environment: preparedness, transparency, engagement with regulators, clear and timely communications and proactivity.
Continue Reading Crisis Management in Unprecedented Times
Sustainable Finance: 2021 Brings Significant New ESG Disclosure Obligations for Financial Services Firms
Over a year ago, on December 29, 2019, the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation entered into force. Just a few months remain before key provisions begin to apply and asset/fund managers and other financial services firms should not delay in preparing for new disclosure requirements.
The SFDR requires European financial firms to consider how sustainability risks…
European Commission Consults on Sustainable Corporate Governance
On October 26, 2020, the European Commission launched a public consultation on a possible EU-level regulatory initiative dedicated to sustainable corporate governance. The consultation is open to a wide range of possible stakeholders incorporated or having activities in the EU until February 8, 2021.
The initiative is proposed further to Action 10 of the European…
A Framework Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance
The EU Taxonomy Regulation, which entered into force on 12 July 2020, introduces an EU-wide taxonomy (or combined glossary and classification system) of environmentally sustainable activities, as well as new disclosure requirements for certain financial services firms and large public interest entities.
In short, the Taxonomy Regulation is intended to provide certain businesses and investors…
Sustainable Finance: A Global Overview of ESG Regulatory Developments
The 2020 ‘perfect storm’ of global economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, renewed global political focus on the Black Lives Matter movement and the workers of the gig economy, plus the pall of smoke from unprecedented wildfires on five continents, is reinvigorating scrutiny from consumers, regulators and employees on ecological and social sustainability considerations,…
DOJ Updates Guidance Regarding Corporate Compliance Programs
On June 1, 2020, the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (the “Department”) released revisions to its guidance regarding the Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs, which the Department uses in assessing the “adequacy and effectiveness” of a company’s compliance program in connection with any decision to charge or resolve a criminal investigation, including…
Changes to the German Foreign Direct Investment Control Regime Take Shape Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie – BMWi), led by federal minister Peter Altmaier, announced a major revision of Germany’s foreign direct investment control regime (FDI Regime) to come into force in 2020, in what would become the third amendment of the FDI Regime since 2017. This announcement was made as part of the introduction of the BMWi’s “National Industry Strategy 2030”. The aim of this new industrial policy is to “protect and regain Germany’s commercial and technical expertise, competitiveness and industrial leadership at national, European and global level”.
Continue Reading Changes to the German Foreign Direct Investment Control Regime Take Shape Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
The Gig is Up? COVID-19 & Remote Work Trend Toward Growth in Gig Labor*
The COVID-19 pandemic is likely a watershed moment for the traditional structure of America’s business workforce. Although there is much uncertainty and opaqueness about the future, it seems clear that in the short term “remote” work arrangements – remote from large commercial office complexes and from concentrated city centers – will become more common for a substantial part of the workforce.
In the medium and longer terms, the pandemic may also support trends toward a more gig-based workforce in sectors of the labor market that are not currently significantly gig-based, specifically for workers in white-collar, business service industries. We lay out below a few of the reasons to anticipate that result and briefly explore the principal legal implications for business. As virtually all companies are considering the impact of the pandemic on their businesses, and specifically the cost-saving potential tied to remote work where feasible, they should take the opportunity now to also consider the possibility that gig-based workforce trends will impact them and how the steps they take in the short term may influence any such impact. For many public companies, the trends and issues discussed below fall under the umbrella of human capital management strategy, as to which the board of directors may be expected to exercise oversight.[1]
Continue Reading The Gig is Up? COVID-19 & Remote Work Trend Toward Growth in Gig Labor*
UPDATE: Cuomo Executive Order Gives New York Corporations Relief on Physical Annual Meetings
This is an updated version of our prior post to address Governor Cuomo’s most recent Executive Orders.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Cuomo declared a disaster emergency and ceased operation of all non-essential businesses in New York state with the March 7 Executive Order 202 and its successor Executive Orders. In particular, the March 20th Executive Order 202.8 provided temporary suspension of several state law regulatory requirements, including with respect to shareholder meetings of New York corporations.
Continue Reading UPDATE: Cuomo Executive Order Gives New York Corporations Relief on Physical Annual Meetings