ESG

Alexa De Leon (Fordham Law ‘23) and Jordan Phelan (Fordham Law ‘23) interview Helene R. Banks, Partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, and co-chair of Cahill’s Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Advisory practice groups, about ESG — what it means, ESG considerations over the lifecycle of a business, and how entrepreneurs should approach disclosures regarding ESG.  They also discuss greenwashing and green claims.

 

Episode Roadmap:

●           [:40] Alexa De Leon introduces herself, Jordan Phelan and today’s guest Helene R. Banks.

●           [2:30] An overview of the three major components of ESG practices and how they work together.

●           [4:22] Main concerns regarding ESG for early stage entrepreneurs and startup companies.

●           [7:06] The impact of ESG on investor interest and an overview of the current value of impact investing.

●           [10:23] Diversity, transparency, and other critical features of ESG investing.

●           [12:58] NASDAQ disclosure requirements and the ESG requests of a reasonable investor.

●           [15:14] The role that strong ESG practices play in a company’s exit strategy.

●           [19:44] Key considerations for environmental, social, and governance practices in the early stages of a company.

●           [21:06] Greenwashing claims and how they can negatively affect a company.

●           [25:36] Helene’s advice for crafting organized efforts around ESG.

●           [28:45] A look at the future impact and role of ESG.

 

Tweetables:

●           “If you’re just starting out and you have a clear sense of your mission and purpose, it's a lot easier than having to figure it out later.” - Helene R. Banks

 

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