CBFL Seminar Series: ESG as a Case-Study in Legal Uncertainty

FEB
2024
Description

The rise of ESG as a focal point in corporate and financial law in recent years has highlighted the presence of legal uncertainty and the risks associated with it. Fiduciary duty as a general principle governs decision-making both for corporate directors and financial intermediaries, but the specific requirements of the law differ in each context. Moreover, the broad framing of fiduciary duty in each domain poses challenges for mapping it on to ESG. In this seminar, we will explore the nature and implications of legal uncertainty in this context. There are two main objectives: one is to assess the extent of legal uncertainty and its implications; the other is to take stock of actions by various actors to mitigate legal uncertainty and to determine whether further action is required. While the analysis is framed primarily by reference to the law and practice in the UK, much of the reasoning will be relevant for all common law jurisdictions.
About the Speaker
Iain MacNeil joined the School of Law in 2003 and was appointed to the Alexander Stone Chair of Commercial Law in 2005. He is a graduate of the Universities of Glasgow (LLB) and Edinburgh (PhD). Iain’s early career was as an investment analyst in the City of London covering the insurance sector. He took up his first academic appointment following completion of his PhD on The Legal Framework for the EU Single Market in Insurance. Iain served as Head of School from 2015-2019 and is now Head of the Corporate & Financial Law Research Group.
Iain’s primary interest and expertise lies in corporate governance, financial regulation and investment. He has published widely and in particular he has explored the interaction between hard and soft law in this sphere, as well as the influence of international standards. His recent publications focus on sustainable finance and stakeholder interests in corporate governance.
Beyond the University of Glasgow, Iain has several roles: he is an honorary professor at the National Law University Delhi; a PRIME Finance panel member; a member of the advisory board of the Centre for Business Research at the University of Cambridge; a trustee of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law; and Chair of the International Securities Regulation Committee of the International Law Association (ILA). He recently served as Deputy Chair of both the 2020 Hong Kong Law RAE Panel and the 2021 UK Law REF Panel. He has acted as Senior Adviser on several EU projects examining national compliance with EU financial sector Directives. 
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Fees are to be paid before the commencement of the event with exception of e-invoices.
2. Fees paid are non-refundable.
3. Registration is transferable within the same organisation if the request is made at least one week in advance of the event.
4. By filling up this Registration Form,
i. Participants agree and consent that their personal data provided in this form may be collected, used, processed and disclosed by NUS and the event organisers for the purposes of processing their registration, in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 and all subsidiary legislation related thereto. In respect to disclosure, NUS may disclose participants personal data to third parties (which may be in or outside of Singapore) where necessary for such purposes.
ii. Participants will also consent to NUS taking photographs and videos for the purposes of event reporting, marketing, publicity, and media/social media. Participants further consent to NUS disclosing such photographs and videos to third party media entities (whether in Singapore or otherwise) for publicity purposes and NUS may identify them by name.
iii. NUS Law School and designated event organisers reserve the right to alter any of the programme or other arrangements for this event, including cancellation or postponement of the event, should circumstances so warrant. 
Date and Time

Thursday, 15th February 2024 4:00PM GMT+08:00
Thursday, 15th February 2024 5:15PM GMT+08:00
Organisation

Faculty of Law
Contact Email

cbfl@nus.edu.sg
Location

Lee Sheridan Conference Room, Federal Building Level 1, NUS Law, 469G Bukit Timah Road