Paul, Weiss Launches Sustainability and ESG Advisory Practice

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP announced today the launch of a new Sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Advisory practice to help boards and executives navigate the legal, business and political ramifications of developing and implementing Sustainability and ESG initiatives, including ESG-focused shareholder engagement. The firm has also hired former litigator, business executive and Sustainability and ESG thought leader David Curran as Chief Sustainability and ESG Officer, a new operations role. Mr. Curran will manage the new practice and work closely with the firm’s lawyers to counsel clients.

Business leaders face greater pressure to increase their organizations’ resilience while simultaneously addressing social issues of importance to customers, investors and other stakeholders. The new Sustainability and ESG Advisory practice works closely with clients to advance programs that improve corporate culture, increase employee morale, strengthen customer loyalty and enhance stakeholder relations, among other objectives. The firm’s lawyers within the ESG practice draw on their deep experience – including at the highest levels of in-house legal departments and government – to advise on corporate governance, crisis management, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, ethics and compliance. In addition, the practice leverages its network of experts in systems, data, analytics, reporting, AI and other areas to benefit clients.

Mr. Curran is a recognized leader in helping complex organizations build resilience. In addition to his work in the Sustainability and ESG space, he has more than 30 years of experience in legal, compliance, risk and ethics roles. Recently he has led a series of roundtable conversations with senior executives on a variety of topics where business and technology intersect with legal and risk issues, including big data, #MeToo and many others.

“Dave is an authority on the challenges and opportunities that ESG presents for businesses. He has worked with many of the world’s leading companies as they embrace corporate social responsibility,” said Paul, Weiss Chairman Brad S. Karp. “We are thrilled to welcome Dave to the firm as our first Chief Sustainability and ESG Officer.”

Mr. 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, Vertis and Campbell Soup Company.