Fast-Tracked Podcast Episode 4: In this episode, guest experts David Curran of Paul, Weiss and Lisa Fairfax of The Institute for Law & Economics at Penn Carey Law discuss ESG initiatives in the legal sector: What does ESG mean; how are corporations aligning governance to ensure the fulfillment of public commitments on social and environmental issues; how are law firms developing practices that support these efforts; and what does ESG mean in the legal profession?
PLI’s Fast-Tracked: Emergent Issues in the Legal Profession podcast, brings you conversations with thought leaders, delving into the most dynamic trends shaping the legal world, from AI to DEI – and everything in between. PLI is proud to keep you ever current with timely programs, publications, and podcasts. Visit pli.edu/ftpod for more episodes.
Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and host, and not necessarily those of PLI.
Featured in this Episode
David Curran
Dave Curran is Co-Chair of the Sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Advisory Practice and Executive Director of the ESG and Law Institute. He is responsible for continuing to develop and promote the firm’s ESG practices. In this role, he also works with the firm’s lawyers to lead its Sustainability and ESG Advisory Practice Group.
Curran is a recognized leader in helping complex organizations build resilience. In addition to his work in the ESG space, he has more than 30 years of experience in legal, technology, compliance, risk, and ethics roles. He has led many popular Thought Leadership conversations with senior executives on a variety of topics where business and technology intersect with the legal, compliance and risk ecosystems, including Transforming Law, Big Data, #MeToo and many others.
Curran began his career as a media trial and appellate lawyer before moving to senior in-house legal, compliance, and regulatory affairs positions. He was previously Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer at FiscalNote, a legal AI/technology company, and held senior business and legal leadership roles with Thomson Reuters, IntraLinks, Integrity Interactive, Havas, Vertis, and Campbell Soup Company.
He serves as co-chair of the New York State Bar Association’s ESG Committee, which aims to educate and engage New York lawyers, law students, and faculty on ESG practices and developments through thought leadership and robust educational programs.
Lisa M. Fairfax
Lisa M. Fairfax is the Presidential Professor and a co-director of the Institute for Law & Economics (ILE). Fairfax teaches courses in the business area including Corporations; Contracts; Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), and seminars in securities law and corporate governance. Fairfax’s research and scholarly interests include corporate governance, board fiduciary duties, board-shareholder engagement, board composition and diversity, board oversight of ESG, shareholder engagement and activism, affinity fraud, and securities.
