In early 2023, the FCA released a discussion paper seeking to encourage industry-wide dialogue on financial services firms’ sustainability-related governance, incentives, and competence. This was part of the FCA's broad...more
4/7/2025
/ Corporate Governance ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Net Zero ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
UK
On April 3, 2025, the European Parliament adopted, by an overwhelming majority, a Directive that would “stop the clock” on certain reporting requirements under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), as...more
The European Commission proposed the EU Omnibus package on February 26 to reduce the burden, and delay application, of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due...more
4/2/2025
/ Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability
The UK Home Office has released revised statutory guidance to support businesses in meeting their obligations under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which requires organizations operating in the UK with annual...more
In its meeting of March 20, 2025, the European Council expressed its support of the so-called Omnibus Package proposed by the European Commission on February 26, 2025. The Omnibus Package includes significant changes to EU...more
3/31/2025
/ Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Parliament ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance
The European Union published its long-awaited "Omnibus" package, proposing to delay key European ESG rules, while simultaneously reducing the applicability and burden of corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence...more
2/27/2025
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Investors ,
Omnibus Guidance ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Sustainability
New ESG regulations are expected to have a significant impact on disclosure and governance obligations for EU and non-EU companies alike, including extensive sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements on...more
12/11/2024
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Mines ,
Energy Policy ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hague Convention ,
Infrastructure ,
Pollution Control ,
Shell Oil
As companies operating in the European Union ("EU") likely now know, new environmental, social, and governance ("ESG") regulations are set to have a significant impact on disclosure and governance obligations for EU and...more
12/10/2024
/ Business Strategies ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability
This White Paper focuses on ESG developments through the Asia-Pacific (“APAC”) region since the start of 2024.
For businesses present in the APAC region, as well as doing business there, it is imperative to be vigilant of...more
7/24/2024
/ Asia Pacific ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Green Energy ,
Greenwashing ,
Net Zero ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Reporting Requirements
The Situation: On June 20, 2024, the UK Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision in R (on the application of Finch on behalf of the Weald Action Group) (Appellant) v Surrey County Council and others (Respondents) [2024]...more
7/19/2024
/ Climate Change ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Oil & Gas ,
Popular ,
UK ,
UK Supreme Court ,
Urban Planning & Development
On April 24, 2024, the European Parliament voted to adopt the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive ("CS3D"). As described in a recent Jones Day Alert, this followed the Council of the European Union ("the...more
The Situation: While U.S. states continue to legislate pay equity and transparency obligations, significant changes are on the horizon in the European Union that will impact U.S. companies with sizeable operations there. The...more
6/6/2024
/ Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Pay ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Gender-Based Pay Discrimination ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Reform ,
New Rules ,
Pay Equity Laws ,
Pay Gap ,
Pay Transparency ,
Reporting Requirements
The Council of the European Union ("EU") approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive ("CS3D") on March 15, 2024. The CS3D contains due diligence and governance obligations that will have an extensive impact...more
3/20/2024
/ Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
European Commission ,
Financial Institutions ,
Green Deal ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Assessment ,
Sustainability
The Council of Europe and the European Parliament announced on December 14, 2023, that they reached a political agreement on the text of the upcoming European Union ("EU") Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive...more
The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) requires the most detailed and onerous ESG reporting and disclosures anywhere in the world. All told, it is estimated that more than 50,000 companies, including...more
9/21/2023
/ Air Pollution ,
Biodiversity ,
Climate Change ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Parent Corporation ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Sustainability ,
Water
Introduction -
On July 24, 2023, the High Court dismissed ClientEarth's application for permission to bring a shareholder derivative claim against Shell's directors (the "Board") for breach of directors' duties under the...more
In Short -
The Situation: The European Union ("EU") has adopted a new regulation designed to tackle deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and globally by preventing European citizens from buying, using, and...more
The European Parliament has adopted the near-final version of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive under which European Union ("EU") companies (including non-EU companies with substantial business activity in the...more
Courts and legislatures both in the United States and abroad continue to prioritize the eradication of labor trafficking in corporate supply chains, including those in the health care industry. For example, in the United...more
In Short -
The Situation: Certain large companies incorporated in the European Union ("EU") are already required to disclose nonfinancial information under the current EU regulatory framework. Two upcoming EU...more
On 15 March 2022, ClientEarth announced that it had written to Shell's board of directors informing them of its intent to bring a claim on behalf of the company for the board's failure to implement a Paris Agreement compliant...more
3/22/2022
/ Board of Directors ,
Breach of Duty ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Derivative Suit ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Failure to Comply ,
Global Disputes ,
NGOs ,
Oil & Gas ,
Paris Agreement ,
Shareholder Demands ,
Shell Oil ,
UK Companies Acts
After June 30, 2021, large asset managers will no longer have the option to "explain" noncompliance with Article 4 of EU Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 on sustainability‐related disclosures in the financial services sector...more
An interest group of EU banks that was formed to assist European financial institutions with their use of public cloud technology recently suggested model terms for the compliant use of cloud technology.
On May 17, 2021,...more
The last five years have seen a substantial increase in the number and variety of regulated firms operating in the United Kingdom, with the development in particular of financial services provided by new technology firms,...more
In Short The Situation: As of the close of the Brexit transition period ending on December 31, 2020 ("Withdrawal Date"), UK banks, UK investment firms, and UK electronic money institutions ("UK Financial Institutions") can...more