ESG

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Companies and investors use information related to environmental, social or governance (“ESG”) factors to provide a company-wide view of sustainability and other priorities.  This includes how the company discloses, reacts to and manages ESG-related risks and policies, such as, for example, risks related to carbon emissions, as well as policies addressing diversity, shareholder rights and…

The 2025 proxy season is just past its peak.  We summarize below key emerging trends in shareholder proposals and no-action requests so far this season.  A more comprehensive review of the 2025 proxy season will need to wait until all voting results are in.  However, the trends so far may be instructive to boards as…

In late 2023, California enacted “first-of-its-kind” climate-related disclosure laws, addressing disclosures on greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risks as well as disclosures aimed at increasing transparency and accountability around certain climate-related claims and use of voluntary carbon offsets. In this Legal Update, we provide a high-level refresher of the requirements of (and recent updates…

In January, Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Hester Peirce discussed her desire to reevaluate the SEC’s shareholder proposal process, suggesting that the SEC do “a better job protecting investors from having their resources diverted to deal with shareholder proposals that are not aimed at maximizing corporate value.”  Commissioner Peirce pointed out that the number of…

Webinar | Wednesday, December 11, 2024
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Register here.

Join experts from Mayer Brown and Georgeson as they discuss key issues companies should consider while preparing for the 2025 proxy and annual report season during this time of regulatory uncertainty. Topics will include new and evolving disclosure requirements, as…

On November 13, 2024, at the Practicing Law Institute’s 56th Annual Institute on Securities Regulation, panelists shared key updates from this year’s proxy season and highlighted emerging trends to watch in 2025.  Public companies experienced favorable voting outcomes across compensation, activism, shareholder proposals, and director elections in 2024. 

Activism and the Impact of the Universal
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On July 15, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed amendments that would, among other things, delay initial reporting deadlines for two of California’s recently enacted climate-related disclosure laws by two years.

Governor Newsom signed the two bills, Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (California Senate Bill 253 (SB-253)), relating to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disclosures, and the…

In recent public comments, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce shared her personal concerns regarding the “fuzziness around what ESG means.” The Commissioner noted that often market participants emphasize the importance of ESG; however, they may not articulate their particular areas of focus. She notes that ESG may encompass a broad range of issues, including, but not…

Webinar | May 14, 2024
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
Register here.

Please join us via webinar for a panel discussion on the current state of climate change and ESG-related regulations affecting corporate issuers, financial institutions and pension fund investors doing business in Canada and the US. Lawyers from Osler and Mayer Brown will…