UN Global Compact, ABA and World Bank Team Up to Demonstrate How In-House Lawyers Can Be Leaders in Advancing Corporate Sustainability and the Rule of Law

​​(Washington D.C.,18 November 2015) – In an effort to promote the important role of General Counsel within companies and international financial institutions (IFIs) in advancing corporate sustainability and the rule of law, the UN Global Compact, American Bar Association and World Bank, co-hosted a panel session on Lawyers as Leaders | Governance and Corporate Responsibility. The session was part of Law, Justice and Development Week 2015 and was attended by General Counsel and other senior officers of IFIs from around the world. 

The session, which was moderated by Ms. Ursula Wynhoven, General Counsel at the UN Global Compact, featured an interactive dialogue with senior legal officers within companies including Mr. Clovis Torres of Vale, Ms. Lynn Reynolds of LexisNexis and Ms. Nicola Port of ACE Group. The main theme of the session was how General Counsel within companies and IFIs can use two of the UN Global Compact's latest resources the Guide for General Counsel on Corporate Sustainability and the Business for the Rule of Law Framework to optimize their role as trusted advisors and strengthen their relationships within their organizations and communities.  

Developed by the UN Global Compact and Linklaters LLP, the Guide for General Counsel on Corporate Sustainability seeks to provide practical guidance to in-house counsel relating to their emerging role as key change agents in advancing corporate sustainability issues within their respective organizations. The Guide is the result of extensive desk research and a comprehensive international consultation process, drawing upon the experiences and good practices from an Advisory Group of General Counsel, as well as over 40 interviews with leading General Counsel from a wide range of industries around the world. The Guide raises the profile of the increasing efforts General Counsel and Chief Legal Officers are making to long-term value creation by their companies in financial, social, environmental and ethical terms with a view to inspiring others to seize the opportunity to join this exciting trend.

The Business for the Rule of Law initiative was announced by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in September 2013.The objective of the Framework is to help business know why and how to respect and support the rule of law as a complement, not as a substitute for, government action. The Framework was developed under the auspices of an international Steering Group led by two members of the UN Global Compact Board. The process included consultation workshops in 19 countries engaging more than 400 senior representatives from business, civil society, government and the United Nations. Among other things, it focuses on what the rule of law means for business, the challenges for business operations where the rule of law is weak, the business case for corporate action in support of the rule of law, actions that business can take, examples of how responsible business has already taken action around the world in this area, and provides guidance to business in identifying what the options are to work with others to help strengthen the legal framework where they operate so that societies can develop sustainably and responsible business can flourish. A number of Global Compact Local Networks, along with LexisNexis, Baker & McKenzie and a host of other organizations, provided extensive support in the development of the Framework.