Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives involve unique and sometimes difficult challenges for employers that seek to develop and comply with these initiatives while minimizing the potential for audits, shareholder demands, litigation, and other adverse, reputational outcomes based on these ESG initiatives. Ogletree’s ESG Practice Group consists of an interdisciplinary group of attorneys who handle pay equity, executive compensation, diversity and inclusion, and traditional labor matters, and who for years have provided practical insights and advice to employers in connection with all the human capital issues included in ESG initiatives.

Business-Oriented Solutions

Our solutions for employers include:

Proactive and privileged audits on human capital issues, including:

• effectiveness of policies and procedures
• pay equity
• freedom of association/union recognition
• diversity, equity, and inclusion
• executive compensation tied to social issues
• misclassification of employees

Audits on these topics negotiated or required in response to shareholder proposals

Advice on human capital-related shareholder proposals for public companies

Guidance concerning the development of ESG human capital initiatives for public and private companies

Advice regarding investing benefit plan assets in companies with ESG priorities and goals

Regardless of the issue, we work directly with company executives and legal departments to assist them in successfully navigating the myriad of issues that arise in connection with the development and maintenance of ESG initiatives.

Environmental, Social, and Governance Practice Group Leaders

Charles B. Baldwin

Shareholder, Indianapolis

Simone R.D. Francis

Shareholder, New York