草榴社区

鈥淪hareholder Environmental Activism鈥�

Friday, February 7
9:00 a.m 鈥� 12:30 p.m.

Laurence E. Hirsch 鈥�71 Classroom (Room 101)
草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law
299 North Spring Mill Road, 草榴社区, PA 19085

Proxy proposals give shareholders a voice in how corporations address issues ranging from corporate governance to social concerns. Shareholder proposals addressing environmental issues have been increasing in recent years, tackling important topics such as climate change, sustainability, water use and waste. In November 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed new amendments to Exchange Act Rule 14a-8, the regulation that governs the process for shareholder proposals to be included in a publicly traded company鈥檚 proxy statement. Supporters of the proposed amendments contend that it will prevent misuse of the proxy proposal process, but opponents allege that it will stifle shareholder voices.

At the 2020 草榴社区 Environmental Law Journal Blank Rome LLP Symposium, representatives from shareholder activist groups, advisors, companies, attorneys and academics will discuss the use of shareholder proposals to advance environmental objectives, including the proposed Rule 14a-8 amendments.

The symposium will take place on Friday, February 7, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Laurence E. Hirsch 鈥�71 Classroom (Room 101) of the 草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law. This program is approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education board for 3 substantive CLE credits.

Agenda

9:00 a.m. 鈥� Welcome

9:10 a.m. 鈥� Introductory Panel

Jonathan Doh, PhD, Associate Dean of Research, Herbert G. Rammrath Endowed Chair in International Business, Co-Faculty Director of the Moran Center for Global Leadership and Professor of Management at 草榴社区 School of Business
, Associate Professor of Law, Washington and Lee University School of Law
, Executive Director, Sustainable Investment Institute (Si2)
Moderated by Jennifer O鈥橦are, Professor of Law, 草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law

10:00 a.m. 鈥� Shareholder Panel

, Senior Associate, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS)
, Executive Director, Investor Advocates for Social Justice
, Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Moderated by , Executive Director, Sustainable Investment Institute (Si2)

10:50 a.m. 鈥� Break

11:00 a.m. 鈥� Companies Panel

, Partner, Corporate Practice Group, Blank Rome LLP
, Counsel, SEC Reporting and Compliance, Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate Governance, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates
, Senior Investment Stewardship Strategist, Vanguard
, Senior Vice President, Corporate, Securities and Finance Law, Lincoln Financial Group
Moderated by Todd Aagaard, Professor of Law, 草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law

11:50 a.m. 鈥� Plenary Discussion

12:30 p.m. 鈥� Adjourn