Global legal and business outlook 2023 insights: future + ESG

Session summary: We look at the role of governance across ESG and for fast growth financial firms.

Speakers: Fiona Bolton, Partner, Tair Hussain, Partner, Penny Miller, Partner, Emma Sutcliffe, Partner

Session summary: This interactive session discusses how financial institutions can (and should) go about implementing a framework for the responsible use of AI and also with a view to ensuring compliance with forthcoming AI regulation.

Speakers: Angus Brown, Managing Associate, Christopher Götz, Partner, Alexandra V. Mousavizadeh, CEO and co-founder, Evident AI, Sophie Sheldon, Managing Associate, Minesh Tanna, Partner.

Session summary: In this session, we discuss clean energy and infrastructure investment deals, recent trends and the increased focus on sustainability.

Speakers: Serra Tar, Partner and Anthony Catachanas, CEO, Victory Hill Capital.

Session summary: In this session, we discuss the year ahead for sustainability linked loans, bonds and derivatives. We take stock of where we are, the challenges to overcome and the opportunities for business in 2023.

Speakers: Elliot Beard, Partner, Lee Irvine, Partner, Piers Summerfield, Partner, France Vassaux, Partner and Oliver West, Partner.

Session summary: In this session we look at the ways in which emerging technologies such as big data analytics, tokenisation and AI are helping firms meet their ESG goals.

Speakers: Angus McLean, Partner, George Morris, Partner and Ugo Malvagna, Associate Professor of Law and Finance, University of Trento, Law School.

Session summary: Carbon is set to become an increasingly important asset class in 2023 and beyond, as governments around the world scramble to adopt policies to ensure various carbon reduction commitments can be met. In this session, we look at compliance, voluntary and Paris Agreement carbon credits, how markets in them have evolved, how they are regulated in several jurisdictions, and highlight the key issues to be considered in the development of carbon-related products and services.

Speakers: Alex Blomfield, Partner, Ben James, Supervising Associate, Sonia Lim, Partner, Rosali Pretorius, Partner and Anna Smart, Trainee solicitor.

Session summary: Financial services firms have faced a torrent of ESG regulation in the last couple of years, and we’re not done yet! In this session our EU and UK experts discuss what needs to be on your radar in 2023, with a focus on key EU and UK legal developments for the financial services sector, the practical challenges these raise, and what you need to do this year.

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Speakers: Caroline Boon, Head of Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility, Barclays, Nicholas Colston, Partner and Derek Lawlor, Partner.

Session summary: This breakout session follows on from ‘The next wave of ESG regulation in 2023’ session and takes a deeper dive on sector-specific concerns for Asset managers.

We focus on forthcoming EU developments (including SFDR and Taxonomy, and the ESMA naming guidelines) and UK developments (including TCFD and the proposals for sustainability labels and disclosures), as relevant for asset managers and fund managers.

Speakers: Nicholas Colston, Partner, Lucian Firth, Partner and Louise Tudor-Edwards, Managing Associate.

Session summary: This breakout session follows on from ‘The next wave of ESG regulation in 2023’ session and takes a deeper dive on sector-specific concerns for Financial Institutions.

We focus on “horizon scanning” developments which relate to banks and other financial institutions, including TNFD and bio-diversity (moving beyond climate), quasi-regulatory initiatives (including the ECB, IOSCO and Basel Committee initiatives), as well as EU law (including the Taxonomy and CSRD).

Speakers: Derek Lawlor, Partner and Tristram Lawton, Managing Associate.

Session summary: Organisations need to focus on how to manage their supply chain to avoid the emerging compliance, governance and sustainability issues resulting from actions down their supply chain. In this session, we cover supply chain regulations, operational resilience regulations, anti-bribery and AML obligations, human slavery regulations, due diligence requirements and contractual obligations giving control over supply chain management.

Speakers: Camilla de Silva, Partner, Sascha Kuhn, Partner and Sophie Sheldon, Managing Associate.

Session summary: Middle East Regional Head, Muneer Khan, leads a panel of industry experts to discuss various initiatives taking place in the Asset Management and Investment Funds sector in the build up to COP28, which will be held in Dubai later this year. The discussion includes a look at "The Path to COP28", a 12-month campaign launched by the UK’s Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) in collaboration with the DIFC Authority, with multiple workstreams to drive commitment and action ahead of COP28.

Speakers: Cinzia Chiriac, Head of ESG Regulatory Affairs, Bloomberg L.P, Muneer Khan, Partner, Regional Head - Middle East, Omar Shaikh, Global Ethical Finance Initiative,
Salman Siddiqui, Jupiter Asset Management and Sonali Siriwardena, Global Head of ESG.

Session summary: Litigation and regulatory enforcement for ESG omissions is only increasing, with an associated and immediate risk of reputational damage. This session looks at the trends that are emerging in this area and how to counter them by translating good intentions into tangible action and driving positive behaviours. Learn about practical examples, tools, and techniques to empower colleagues, customers and your supply chain with accessible, navigable, and user-centric communication.

Speakers: Robert Allen, Partner, Erika Pagano, Head of Innovation and Design, Udo Pickartz, Counsel, Vanessa Sharman, Associate and Jemima Coleman, Consultant.