What's Next in ESG Investments and ERISA's Fiduciary Duties?

• Discussion of what constitutes an Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) investment
• How ESG investments have been treated in Washington, D.C. – both by the U.S. Department of Labor and Congress
• Fiduciary considerations when deciding whether to include ESG investments as plan investment options, and how to address interest from participants in ESG investing
• Recent litigation involving ESG investing, including litigation against the New York City Public Pension Funds for divesting from fossil fuel companies and American Airlines for allegedly offering ESG investments and failing to monitor proxy voting
• What’s ahead for ESG investing and this debate

Under ERISA, plan sponsors and fiduciaries must act in the best interest of their beneficiaries. However, with the increasing demand for sustainable and socially responsible investments, ERISA fiduciaries are increasingly faced with requests to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria into their portfolios. Furthermore, the US Department of Labor (DOL) issued new rules outlining the factors that fiduciaries should consider when making investment decisions.

Hence, as the ESG investment space continues to evolve, financial and investment advisers must keep abreast of recent regulatory developments and emerging trends to ensure compliance with relevant laws.

Join Dylan Rudolph of Trucker Huss and William David Pollak of O’Melveny & Myers LLP as they provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of ESG investing as well as the recent changes to the duties of ERISA fiduciaries with respect to the DOL’s new guidelines. Speakers, among other things, will offer best practices for plan sponsors and trustees to successfully navigate the future investment landscape.

The Knowledge Group