A New York City law firm that specializes in environmental, social and governance investing advice is creating the ESG Institute to focus on the legal issues of ESG institutional investing.
Grant and Eisenhofer formed the institute to be an advocate on ESG issues and to act as a thought leader in the field, the firm said. In the past three years, global assets in the sector have grown by 25 percent to $23 trillion, according to the Global Sustainable Investment Review.
Investors are interested in integrating ESG factors with advancement of sustainability, human rights, humane working conditions and strong corporate governance, while limiting the spread of nuclear and chemical weapons, carbon emissions and fossil fuel usage, Jay Eisenhofer, co-managing director of the firm, said.
The Institute’s nine-person oversight board will be made up of leaders in corporate governance and investor rights from the United States and Europe.
“A key part of the ESG Institute’s mission is to provide thought leadership. The objective is to continuously address legal issues that investment officers and shareholders are grappling with in implementing sustainability considerations and responsible investment criteria,” said Stuart Grant, co-managing director.
The institute will consider legal issues such as the relationship between climate change and securities laws; corporate accountability and liability involving cybersecurity and protection of consumer data; and corporate legal responsibility for activity in developing countries.