M&A virtual seminar | Green, diverse, transparent: The impact of ESG on the Corporate and M&A practice

M&A 2021 online winter seminar

Thursday 18 February 2021
13:00 » 13:15	Opening and introduction by the AIJA President François Barré
13:15 » 14:00	Keynote session: ESG Masterclass Interview with Professor Beate Sjåfjell, specialist in company law and corporate governance   Beate Sjåfjell is Professor at the University of Oslo, Faculty of Law, Adjunct Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Faculty of Economics and Management, and the head of the Oslo Faculty’s Research Group Companies, Markets and Sustainability. Her publications include the edited volumes The Cambridge Handbook of Corporate Law, Corporate Governance and Sustainability (Cambridge University Press, 2019, co-editor Christopher M. Bruner), Creating Corporate Sustainability, Gender as an Agent for Change (Cambridge University Press, 2018, co-editor: Irene Lynch Fannon), and Company Law and Sustainability: Legal Barriers and Opportunities (Cambridge University Press, 2015, co-editor: Benjamin Richardson). Many of her papers are available at ssrn.com/author=375947
14:30 » 15:15	Impact of ESG on M&A transactions This session will consider the role of ESG in times of COVID-19, ESG due diligence, and its big players such as institutional investors, private equity funds, and the rise of shareholders’ activism. The impact on transaction documents will also be discussed as well as the matter of sustainable finance for sustainable deals. Moderator: Anne Toupenay Schueller, Jeantet, France Speakers: Antti Sailakivi, HPP Attorneys, Finland Anna Mateusiak, Arendt & Medernach, Luxembourg Matteo Vernizzi, Studio SAT,  Italy Roman Graf, Lenz & Staehelin, Switzerland
15:45 » 16:30	Corporate aspects: ESG in the boardroom and the impact of M&A on diversity and inclusion The focus of this session will be on corporate aspects of ESG and D&I. It will start with talks on corporate-related ESG policies and their implementation and how its reporting works. Then, a debate on shareholders vs. stakeholders and their impact in the boardroom regarding D&I practices will follow.  Moderator: Xavier Costa, Roca Junyent, Spain  Speakers: Milena Prisco, CBA, Italy Philip Rosenauer, PHH, Austria Pieter Van den Broeck, Monard Law, Belgium
17:00 » 17:45	The role of law firms in the transition towards sustainability Presentation of the Report “The Law Firm Climate Change Scorecard”: the last academic session will raise questions on diversity and sustainability measurement within the law firms and share practical knowledge on how to reduce the impact of our work to the benefit of everyone. Moderator: Michael Eitle, Blum&Grob, Switzerland Speakers: Roberto Randazzo, RP Legal & Tax, Italy Hugo Teixeira, Abreu, Portugal Tim Hirschel-Burns, Law Students for Climate Accountability, USA
17:45 » 18:00	Wrap-up / Additional Q&A
18:00 » 19:00	Social activities and drinks
19:00 » 19:30	Commission meeting Following the social event, the AIJA Corporate and M&A Commission will be hosting its first Commission meeting of the year. This lively session will: Welcome new members Discuss about the Commission’s 2021 programmes Look for volunteers for the AIJA Academy. To take part in the meeting, you do not require to be registered to the event. Please click on this link to connect to the Commission Meeting.