Navigating Competing Pressures Regarding ESG: Political Forces, Legal Liabilities, and Reputational Risks

Navigating Competing Pressures Regarding ESG: Political Forces, Legal Liabilities, and Reputational Risks

• Thursday, October 10, 2024 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM 

Members of Covington’s ESG, Public Policy, Antitrust, and Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practices discussed the increasing political polarization of ESG, the “anti-ESG” movement, and the implications on ESG investing and related initiatives.

As companies grapple with the role of ESG in their long-term business strategy, it is increasingly important for them to understand the risks and opportunities associated with ESG investment, public commitments, stakeholder engagement, and the reputational impacts of related decisions.

Our multidisciplinary panel explored the intersection of law, policy, and politics, including the impact of political division over ESG investing, navigating U.S. and EU governmental authorities, the prospect of enforcement activity across a number of substantive legal disciplines, and what may lie ahead.