“Corporate social responsibility is a hard-edged business decision. Not because it is a nice thing to do or because people are forcing us to do it… because it is good for our business”

Niall Fitzgerald, former CEO, Unilever

08:00 - 17:30

One America Square Conference Centre, 17 One Crosswall, America Square, London EC3N 2LB. Live streaming is available for virtual delegates

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues should be top concerns of all corporate management and boards.

There was a time when a public stance on ESG issues was a public relations tactic. However, in today's rapidly changing business climate, attention to ESG issues is becoming critical to long-term competitive success.

In this new environment all company performance is being assessed through an ESG lens and professional services firms are not immune to this.

Evidence shows that properly integrated ESG policies widen a firm’s competitive reach compared to other industry players. Those who take steps to improve labour conditions, enhance the diversity of their teams, invest in their communities, and adopt sustainable environmental practices and policies will strengthen their brand and their client offering.

People are interested in the “citizenship” of a brand, and whether it is doing the right things societally, economically, and environmentally.

Organisations that recognise the importance of adapting to changing socio-economic and environmental conditions are better able to identify strategic opportunities and meet competitive challenges.

We must, therefore, reconnect company success with societal progress. Shared value is not social responsibility or even sustainability. It is a new way to achieve economic success. It is not on the outer edge of what we do but rather at the centre.

Those who are truly committed to executing ESG policies, practices and programmes ensure ESG is a senior management priority of the CEO and General Counsel, and increasingly tie compensation to ESG metrics.

They voluntarily report ESG goals, and progress towards meeting them, to all stakeholders via the annual CEO letter, annual reports, internal corporate communications, and/or annual sustainability reports.

Increasingly they are demanding their suppliers and vendors – including their professional advisors - act in the same way.

Jeremy Barton Partner and General Counsel, KPMG UK

Jeremy Barton joined KPMG UK as general counsel in 2015. He is a member of the executive committee and is responsible for the legal affairs of the firm. His team provides strategic and technical advice to the board, the executive committee and partners on matters relating to governance, regulation, practice protection, deals and contracts. His previous positions have been as both regional and global General Counsel in other large international accounting and consulting organisations. Jeremy is married with three children and enjoys running in the African bush.

E. Leigh Dance President of ELD International and Global Counsel Leaders Circle

Leigh Dance leads ELD International and Global Counsel Leaders Circle, working with international corporate legal/compliance leaders and teams to improve performance, increase productivity and demonstrate value. Leigh has long-standing relationships with a vast network of senior corporate legal and compliance leaders worldwide. ELD International projects include advising corporate legal functions on managing remote legal teams, law firm convergence, competency-building and talent retention, legal strategy, business partnering, corporate governance, crisis response and management, best practices, structures, KPIs and communications.

Dan Kayne General Counsel Regions, Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd, Legal Services Founder of The O shaped Lawyer Programme

In the three years since taking up his current role, Dan Kayne and his team have become closely aligned to the needs of the business, placing the customer at the heart of strategy to deliver against a vision of “consistently exceeding customer expectations”. To achieve this, Dan and his team’s focus has been increasingly on how they deliver their service rather than what they deliver. More recently Dan has brought together senior leaders from across the industry to focus on transforming the training and development of lawyers. This is designed to create more all-rounded O Shaped lawyers better equipped to meet the demands placed on them in an increasingly disrupted and changing sector.

Ben Kent Founder, Meridian West

Ben Kent is the founder of Meridian West. He works with a variety of professional firms both large and small, UK and global. His clients include Allen & Overy, Hogan Lovells, PwC, KPMG and Intertrust. He helps firms develop client feedback programmes, thought leadership campaigns, and market strategy research. Ben is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars and, prior to going into research, was a corporate lawyer.

Claire Mason CEO and Founder, Man Bites Dog

Claire Mason is an entrepreneur, NED, CEO and founder of global thought leadership consultancy Man Bites Dog. She develops future thinking for intelligent brands to position them as leaders in the next economy. With 25 years’ experience leading global strategic marcomms programmes, Claire and her team create signature campaigns for technology, professional and financial services firms shaping the future of business. She has developed global thought leadership campaigns on subjects from the future of work and global trade, to financing the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Zeronomics (the economics of net zero transition). An established keynote speaker, Claire is an active champion of sustainability, global trade, the knowledge economy, entrepreneurship and diversity and inclusion.

Alexander Rhodes Partner, Head of Purpose, Mishcon de Reya

Alexander Rhodes is Partner and Head of Purpose at Mishcon de Reya. He provides strategic Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) advice and purpose-driven insight to help clients navigate the opportunities and risks presented by a rapidly changing world. Typically, Alexander is a trusted advisor to international clients with more than 15 years’ legal and global consultancy experience. He acts for families in relation to their personal, business and philanthropic interests, as well as those seeking transition to more sustainable and resilient ways of working. Aleander is privileged to have worked closely with governments and global leaders in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. A seasoned litigator, he has particular expertise in the resolution of complex multi-jurisdictional disputes (usually with reputational aspects) and public affairs

We are adding to our events programme all the time so please check the website for the latest news.

Click Here to see the full conference programme and contact Gail Jaffa to book your place - gail.jaffa@psmg.co.uk