TRAINING SESSION

How the EU Regulates the Climate Crisis: Legal Responses to ESG and Climate Challenges

This seminar will provide the latest updates on the EU ESG regulatory frameworks, enforcement trends and litigation risks.

Audience

Legal professionals, corporate executives, compliance officers, ESG leads, risk managers and financial services professionals

Duration

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

Format

Interactive expert-led workshop with group discussions legal case illustrations

Resources

Slide deck
EU ESG legal framework summary
Case law and enforcement trend handout

Sample Agenda

This training is designed to foster engagement and interaction among participants, ensuring that they all leave with a clear understanding of the directive 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: Climate Crisis and Regulatory Momentum

The scientific and legal rationale behind regulating the climate crisis
Climate change as a systemic risk to markets, rights and institutions
Why the EU leads globally in ESG and climate legislation
The European Green Deal and Fit-for-55 Package: Policy context

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Key EU ESG Instruments Addressing the Climate Crisis

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD):
Reporting scope, mandatory assurance, climate disclosure standards & recent and upcoming changes
Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR):
How financial actors must report climate risks and sustainability impacts
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD):
Scope, environmental due diligence, liability exposure & upcoming changes
Green Claims Directive: Combatting greenwashing and deceptive sustainability marketing
Case Study: Greenwashing enforcement and litigation in the EU

3:30 PM – 3:45 PM | Break

3:45 PM – 4:30 PM | Legal Risks, Enforcement & Strategic Response

Climate litigation trends in Europe
Emerging liabilities for directors and companies
NGO and investor strategies: reputational risks and legal pressure
Mitigation: Compliance best practices and governance adjustments
Practical tools: Legal risk mapping and policy alignment

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

Your organization’s position in the new climate and ESG legal landscape
Key takeaways for in-house counsel and decision-makers
Recommended next steps: readiness checks, legal horizon scanning
Open Q&A tailored to participant questions

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.