Join us for the opening mainstage event on 8 March, 2pm UK.
esela Virtual Conference 2021
Join the Opening Mainstage, Monday 8 March
If you haven't got your ticket, there is still time to register for the opening mainstage discussion on stakeholder capitalism with Leo E. Strine Jnr., Monday 8 March, 14:00 GMT.

Scroll down to see what is on in Week 1, including an essential seminar on Standardised Reporting and a networking session for delegates based in Europe. 
Meet the Week 1 Speakers
Agenda

esela Virtual Conference 2021
Week 1, 8 - 10 March

Opening Mainstage 
Mon 08 March, 14:00 - 15:30 (UK)

Join us as we open the esela Virtual Conference 2021.

Agenda
  • Welcome address by Roberto Randazzo, President of esela - The legal network for social impact
  • Keynote address from Leo E. Strine, Jr. 'Stakeholder Capitalism'
  • Mainstage panel on 'Corporate Governance: Making Sustainability Mandatory'

Keynote
Stakeholder Capitalism
Mon 08 March, 14:00 - 14:30 (UK)

Keynote address on the need to move away from Milton Friedman’s doctrine of shareholder primacy to a new stakeholder-oriented approach to corporate governance.

Speaker
  • Leo E. Strine, Jr
    • Of Counsel in the Corporate Department at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
    • Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court, 2014 - 2019

Mainstage Panel
Corporate Governance: Making Sustainability Mandatory
Mon 08 March, 14:30 - 15:30 (UK)

Can mandatory disclosures bring about a meaningful shift towards Stakeholder Capitalism? What do lawyers and policy makers need to know about the drive for Sustainable Corporate Governance in the EU, and the role of reporting and disclosure?

Without increased disclosure, transparency around business impacts and the assessment of true value remains out of reach. Investors and stakeholders may struggle to hold company boards to account in relation to their broader corporate purpose, or for engaging in activities that create costly negative impacts.

Join this mainstage panel to find out how the move to mandatory disclosures can help unlock corporate purpose and act as a linchpin to the adoption of Stakeholder Capitalism.

Speakers

  • Michelle Meagher
    • Co-Founder of the Inclusive Competition Forum
    • Author of ‘Competition is Killing Us’
    • Senior Policy Fellow at the Centre for Law, Economics and Society, University College London
  • Beate Sjåfjell
    • Professor Dr. Juris at the University of Oslo, Faculty of Law, Department of Private Law
    • Member of the European Commission Company Law Expert Group
  • Joanne Houston
    • EU Policy, Responsible Companies Section at Frank Bold and the Alliance for Corporate Transparency
    • Working on Frank Bold's initiative to build multi-stakeholder consensus on the legal framework for corporate sustainability reporting, through a 'model law' which advances the debate on the reform of the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive and the development of European reporting standards.

Seminar
Standardising Sustainability Reporting: from ESG to SDGs

Tue 09 March, 14:00 - 15:30 (UK)

Join the first seminar of the esela Virtual Conference 2021.

Following the five framework and standard-setting institutions’ 
statement of intent to work towards a comprehensive corporate reporting system, the global convergence and increased adoption of high-quality standards for measurement, management and reporting of environmental and social outcomes is a realistic near-term prospect.

What are the implications for legal and professional advisors, and for purposeful businesses? 

This session will unpack the role of reporting metrics for purpose in ‘
Measuring Purpose: An Integrated Framework', legal reactions to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Consultation Paper on Sustainability Reporting, and the opportunities within the development of UNDP SDG Impact Practice Standards in 2021.

 

Chair:

  • Holly Gregory, Partner and co-chair of the global Corporate Governance and Executive Compensation practice, Sidley LLP

Speakers:

  • Dr Judith StroehleSenior Research Fellow & Programme Lead, Oxford Rethinking Performance Initiative, Saïd Business School
  • Rick Alexander, Founding Partner, Chief Executive Officer of The Shareholder Commons
  • Ben Carpenter, CEO of Social Value International 
  • Olivia Dickson, Board Member and Lead Expert at Impact Investing Institute

Networking
For delegates based in Europe

Wed 10 March, 10:00 - 11:20 (UK)

Join the first of three regional networking sessions at the esela Virtual Conference 2021.

This session will create structured meeting spaces for delegates based in Europe (including the UK).

You will have the opportunity to join two of three breakout room discussions, and to share experience and strategies for taking an impact focused approach to legal practice.

BREAKOUT ROOM TOPICS

  • Impact Economy Policy Mapping
    • This discussion will present an new interactive map of policies and initiatives in the impact economy space and invite your views on how this space can be further developed.
  • Cross-Border Donations
    • This discussion will look at the conditions for donations to foreign organisations in Europe and propose a path to developing a collaborative ongoing approach to the subject within the esela network.
  • Sustainable Corporate Governance and the B Corp Movement
    • This discussion will explore how impact lawyers can support EU corporate governance reform, which is people, planet and profit oriented.

This session is presented by esela members based in Germany, France, Poland and the UK.

Session chair: Alissa Pelatan, Founder and Partner of AMP Avocat.


Further details:

IMPACT ECONOMY POLICY MAPPING

Discussion leadersShirah Mansaray, PhD Scholar and Phillippa Holland, Impact Economy Knowledge Lawyer at Bates Wells, UK

What do we mean by ‘impact economy’? This breakout room will present The Impact Economy Policy Mapping Initiative, a visual tool of policies advancing purpose driven business, stakeholder capitalism, fiduciary duty and reporting, and responsible investment in the UK, and including EU policies.

There is an ongoing need among lawyers to identify scope for collaboration to support domestic or international policy initiatives.

Join this conversation to find out how you would use the newly created tool, which aims to give lawyers, businesses, and policy makers a greater understanding of the fragmented policy agenda and initiatives in the impact economy space.


In sharing the tool with you, we invite your views on the potential applications of the map as an international or global tool for policy change through your work.


 

CROSS-BORDER DONATIONS
Discussion leader
Alexander Vielwerth, Attorney for Tax Law at Winheller, Germany

Starting from the legal situation in Germany, we will discuss the conditions prevailing in European countries for the tax deductibility of donations to foreign organisations.

The aim of this breakout room will not be the mere transfer of knowledge about the legal situation abroad, but ideally the starting point of a common approach to an international overview of different jurisdictions which could be either published or used in one's own legal work.

 

SUSTAINABLE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND THE B CORP MOVEMENT
Discussion leader
Wojciech Baginski, Attorney, Baginski.Pro, Poland / B Lab Public Policy Group

The EU Commission has finalised the Consultation on Sustainable Corporate Governance.

One of the core elements of the consultation relates to the revision of the duty of care of management board members in companies.

Introduction - on a pan-European level - of a mandatory obligation on management boards of companies to explicitly include and balance all stakeholder and not predominantly shareholder interests in their decision-making processes is a development in European corporate law, the significance of which cannot be overstated.

The EU now has a chance to lead the way in governance, which is people, planet and profit oriented. B Corps who voluntarily live by these ideas show that it is in the best interest of the company to include and balance the interests of all stakeholders - including shareholders - in their processes.

B Lab is looking to engage esela members and delegates in mapping the law regarding this revised duty of care.

During this session, we will review the questions raised and proposals made in the EU consultation, seek input from attendees on this subject, and discuss the extent of the potential study

To find out what's coming up in Weeks 2, 3 and 4, view the agenda in full.
esela Virtual Conference 2021
How to attend
esela Virtual Conference 2021
What to expect

​A PRESTIGIOUS LIST OF OVER 50 SPEAKERS

16 ESSENTIAL VIRTUAL SESSIONS FOR LAWYERS

OVER 20 HOURS OF LIVE CONTENT
The esela Virtual Conference 2021 features curated networking, knowledge sharing on legal structures and deals, and discussion of market developments. This year's spaced agenda covers ESG, impact investing, purposeful business, climate, sustainability and business and human rights.
What kind of delegate will you be?

With a packed agenda of sessions to choose from, experience the esela Virtual Conference 2021 in a way that works for your diary.

PLAN YOUR SESSIONS

'The Full Package'

  • Attend all 16 sessions live or view the recordings on-demand later using your conference ticket. 

'Create Your Own Agenda'

  • Select the most relevant sessions for you in the agenda over the 4 weeks.

'Just One Session'


CONFERENCE NETWORKING*

During each week of the conference, login to view attendee and speaker profiles, connect with delegates, use the chat function and schedule one-to-ones. 

View the Conference Timings to find out when the networking platform will be live.

 *Networking is available for delegates with a ticket or membership (excludes Free Single Session Tickets).
 
esela Virtual Conference 2021
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About esela
esela - The legal network for social impact is a non-profit global network of lawyers, advisors, academics and entrepreneurs, working to create a sustainable and inclusive economy that promotes positive social impact.

We are interested in the role of the law and lawyers in reshaping legal systems and practice for good through impact investing, social entrepreneurship, business and human rights, the response of business to the climate emergency, 'profit with purpose' and related disciplines.
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