TRAINING SESSION

Global ESG Developments and Legal Risks: Strategic Compliance & Corporate Responsibility in a Fast-Changing ESG Landscape

ESG regulations aimed at increasing corporate accountability and improving transparency for investors and stakeholders have recently been on a roller coaster worldwide.

In the European Union, recently adopted ESG laws such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) are currently undergoing significant changes. In the case of the CSRD, both as regards reporting scope as well as reporting obligations.

While the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had just finalized its long-awaited rule on climate-related disclosures for public companies last year, this is currently on hold following legal challenges. States such as California and New York have however developed their own ESG reporting rules that will soon start to apply.

The UK government on the other hand is actively developing and implementing frameworks like the SDR and CFD to enhance ESG transparency and accountability among certain companies.

ESG developments in other parts of the world also provide a mixed picture.

By the end of this session, participants will:

Understand the evolving ESG legal landscape across key jurisdictions (EU, US, UK, global);
Be aware of emerging reporting, due diligence and transparency obligations;
Recognize legal and financial risks tied to non-compliance, including litigation and greenwashing claims;
Be able to evaluate the strategic role of ESG for corporate governance and long-term sustainability, and
Have tailored recommendations for next steps.

Audience

Board members, legal professionals, sustainability leads, public policy experts, and compliance officers

Duration

Half day
(2-4 hours, depending on desired depth)

Format

Interactive expert-led workshop with group discussions and case studies

Resources

Slides
Global ESG compliance checklist
Case summaries (EU, US, UK, global)

Sample Agenda

This training is designed to foster engagement and interaction among participants, ensuring that they all leave with a clear understanding of developments and actionable insights for your company.

It can be adapted to your company’s individual needs as every training includes a video (call) to optimize the training. For an optimal learning effect, we recommend face-to-face training, however, trainings can also be held online.

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Setting the Scene: ESG in Legal and Strategic Context

The rise and backlash of ESG: What’s at stake for companies, regulators and people world-wide
Regulatory fragmentation vs. global standards (ISSB, GRI, EU-US differences)
The new corporate accountability paradigm: Balancing sustainability and liability

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Legal Overview of Key ESG Regimes (EU, US, UK, Global)

EU: CSRD and CSDDD – current scope, phased implementation, upcoming changes
US: SEC’s climate disclosure rules and legal challenges; California & New York ESG laws
UK: SDR, TCFD-based frameworks and future direction
Brief insights into global developments (e.g. Canada, Australia, Asia)

3:30 PM – 3:45 PM | Coffee Break

3:45 PM – 4:30 PM | ESG Risk Landscape: Litigation, Enforcement & Reputational Impact

Rise in ESG-related lawsuits and shareholder activism
Greenwashing and misleading sustainability claims: legal boundaries
[Depending on audience: Director liability and fiduciary duties in ESG contexts]
[Depending on sector: Sector-specific risks, e.g. finance, manufacturing, energy, tech]

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Final Reflections and Open Q&A

Participant questions and comments
Key takeaways for your organisation’s ESG roadmap
Tailored recommendations for next steps

The Trainer

Dr Alexandra von Westernhagen benefits from over 20 years as an EU regulatory lawyer gained in seven jurisdictions (including Brussels, the UK & Germany), in international private practice, academia (e.g. MIT) & international organizations (European Commission & OECD).

She is currently Partner & Head of EU Sustainability at Liberius Legal based in Brussels, the heart of the EU, as well as EU/Regulatory Partner at Keystone Law in London. She is also a Board member (Europe) of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL).

Alexandra regularly provides EU law overview & strategic implementation trainings to company boards and members of their organizations, including to Barclays, Sodexo, Royal Mail and many other EU and international companies, law firms, public sector organizations, universities and think tanks.