Environmental, Social, Governance - by Brian Israel & Ellen K Fleishhacker & Teresa Johnson (Paperback)

About the Book

"First, the book does what any good legal writing should do: it transmutes an awesomely complex subject into a story more easily readable and understandable. The authors achieve that by explaining about how each element of ESG historically came to be, and thereafter elucidating at the more theoretical level, each element's conceptual underpinnings. Second, the book explains and elucidates, with remarkable depth and breadth, the wide array of disparate subjects that ESG encompasses. Third, most notable is the book's well-organized internal structure, which is designed to provide practitioners what they most need -a practical approach"--

Book Synopsis

This comprehensive book is a practitioner's guide for understanding the myriad of issues related to ESG. It is organized into the following five sections to assist corporations and lawyers in navigating ESG:

Part 1: ESG Is Here to Stay focuses on several big picture topics:

• Brief history of the legal underpinning of stakeholder capitalism
• Case studies identifying categories of stakeholders impacted by ESG-related issues
• ESG backlash
• ESG in the United Kingdom and the European Union

Part II: Environmental: Understanding Risks and Opportunities Around Climate and Other Issues covers the "E" of ESG and discusses the following topics:

• Key principles related to climate risk and management
• Climate-related disclosures obligations at the federal and international level
• Key considerations when setting greenhouse gas emissions targets
• Other emerging environmental considerations
• Green marketing claims and communications

Part III: Social: Finding a Path for Complex Social Issues covers the "S" of ESG and discusses the following topics:

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) and its legal and political challenges
• Workforce well-being
• ESG across borders and international guidelines
• Highly-politicized social issues
• Environmental justice

Part IV: Governance: Practical Advice for Getting Governance Right covers the "G" of ESG and discusses the following topics:

• The role of a company's board in managing ESG issues
• The role of corporate management in effective corporate governance related to ESG
• ESG management systems
• Responding to shareholder initiatives

Part V: The Role of the Lawyer: Helping Companies Navigate Uncharted Waters discusses wide-ranging ESG legal issues, including:

• Due diligence
• Internal investigations
• Monitoring ESG legislative and regulatory developments
• ESG investment funds
• Public company disclosures

Review Quotes

"[This] book explains and elucidates, with remarkable depth and breadth, the wide array of disparate subjects that ESG encompasses. Depth-wise, the book is a legal practitioner's dream, because it contributes highly detailed and nuanced practical advice on the law governing issues ranging from climate change, to animal rights, to diversity equity & inclusion, to worker-employee well-being. As for breadth, the book exposes the reader to the detailed ESG legal roadmap, not only within the United States but also in the United Kingdom and the European Union... In short, the book is comprehensive, well-organized, insightful and practical. I commend it to anyone charged with confronting ESG issues in their business organization, and to practitioners in search of the tools needed to navigating what may will be the most challenging business organizational governance issues encountered in of our times." -From the Foreword by the Honorable Jack Jacobs (former Delaware Supreme Court Justice)