Location & Start Date
Online
Self-PacedCourse Launch:
Monday, April 17, 2023
Content Access: 5 months
Time Commitment: ~ 40 hours of mandatory content
Who Should Participate
This course approaches ESG from a cross-functional perspective and explores both legal and business risks and opportunities. Past participants include C-suite executives and other professionals from different disciplines including law, investor relations (IR), public affairs and policy, media, and communications.
Course Structure
Lectures
Each module begins with a lecture that includes theoretical underpinnings for each topic and case studies of leading company practices. Module descriptions are found below.
ESG Beat Insights
Through The ESG Beat, our interview series, we introduce thought leaders on the forefront of defining and implementing ESG. These conversations provide concrete insights into how ESG and sustainable capitalism are being debated and operationalized, and enable students to keep their finger on the pulse of this movement. Our experts include investors, board members, corporate executives, corporate counsel and general counsel, former judges, the media, academics, and leading NGOs and nonprofits.
Curated Readings
With new articles being published each day, it is difficult to navigate the vast literature on Sustainable Capitalism and ESG. In this course, we have curated some of the most important resources, which include:
- Ground-breaking academic papers (which we have excerpted)
- Opinion pieces and articles written by our guests on The ESG Beat and other experts
- Industry reports containing data on ESG trends and highlighting ESG risks and opportunities
- Media articles that show how ESG issues are being discussed and debated in the court of public opinion
Quizzes
To earn a certificate of completion, participants must earn a combined overall grade average of 75% on the module quizzes. Each quiz consists of no more than five questions directly related to the video lectures. All of the quizzes may be taken multiple times; however, a participant’s final grade will be calculated as an average of all of their quiz attempts.
Live Office Hours and Networking Sessions
To provide participants with the opportunity to engage in the discussion and debate, we will host four optional, live office hours, providing participants with the opportunity to ask questions and bring up topics for discussion. These live office hours are typically held on Thursdays at 9:00 am PT (exact dates to be shared with the cohort). In addition, we will host four networking sessions (two of which will focus on “Careers in ESG”).
Course Design
Below is a list of the course modules. For a detailed overview of the learning outcomes, format, course design, and modules, please download the Sustainable Capitalism and ESG course syllabus.
Module 1
Articulating and Enacting Corporate Purpose
Module 2
Redefining the Roles of Government and Business to Address Social and Environmental Challenges
Module 3
Debating the Board’s Fiduciary Duties Under the Traditional and New Corporate Forms
Module 4
Communicating with Investors on Environmental and Social Risks and Priorities
Module 5
Governing ESG Risks and Opportunities
Module 6
Measuring and Disclosing Environmental and Social Risks and Priorities
Module 7
Valuing Employees and the Workforce
Module 8
Prioritizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Module 9
Respecting Human Rights
Module 10
Building Resilience Against Environmental Risks
Tuition & Discounts
General Tuition
$1,500
UC Berkeley Alumni*
$1,275
Save 15%
Partner Organization Members*
$1,275
Save 15%
Group Rate*
$1,275
Save 15%
Auditors*
This rate is only available to past program participants who earned a Sustainable Capitalism & ESG certificate and want to stay up to date on ESG. Includes access to course materials and live discussion forums only.
$375
Save 75%
*For all special rates (i.e. UC Berkeley alumni, partner, group, or auditor), please email esg@law.berkeley.edu for instructions to access your tuition category. To register a group, please email esg@law.berkeley.edu.
Sallie Mae Financing
If you are interested in financing this course, Sallie Mae provides competitive education loan programs for credit-qualified borrowers. For more information and to apply, visit the Sallie Mae website. If you decide to pursue such financing, please submit your application to Sallie first and then contact us at esg@law.berkeley.edu. We will provide additional instructions on completing your registration.
Professional Development Sponsorship
If your employer provides professional development opportunities and funding, we highly recommend asking them to subsidize the cost of tuition for Sustainable Capitalism & ESG. This certificate program is an excellent professional development and networking opportunity, and your employer may be willing to cover some, or all, of the costs. You are welcome to customize this template for your purposes.
Certificates & MCLE
Certificate Type
Certificate in Sustainable Capitalism and ESG
Participants who complete all ten modules, two written reflections, and two written responses will earn a Certificate in Sustainable Capitalism and ESG from Berkeley Law Executive Education.
MCLE
19 Hours
This program has been authorized by the California State Bar to offer up to 19 credit hours of MCLE. Attorneys from other states will need to contact their local bar to verify their own certification requirements.
Instructors
Amelia Miazad
Founding Director, Business in Society Institute at Berkeley Law
Professor Miazad is widely recognized as an expert in ESG. She teaches courses at the intersection of sustainability, corporate governance, and compliance. Her recent publications explore sustainability and ESG as a process for overseeing risk and a powerful tool for transforming corporate culture. Professor Miazad’s curriculum and scholarship rely on input from experts who are implementing environmental and social considerations into their business practices. This pedagogical approach, which blends theory and practice, is reflected in the design of this course.
Her recent publications explore sustainability and ESG as a process for overseeing risk and a powerful tool for transforming corporate culture and include: The Hidden Power of Compliance (Minnesota Law Review, 2019), Sex, Power, and Corporate Governance (UC Davis Law Review, 2021), and Corporate Law and Social Risk (Vanderbilt Law Review, 2020). Prosocial Antitrust (Hastings Law Journal, 2021).
Angeli Patel
Executive Director of the Berkeley Center for Law and Business
Angeli Patel is the Executive Director of the Berkeley Center for Law and Business. Prior to joining Berkeley Law, she was an attorney in the Sustainability & ESG Advisory Practice at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in San Francisco where she advised clients on the governance of climate and social risks, and a Lecturer at Berkeley Law. Previously, Angeli was a corporate associate at Jones Day and held an advisory role at the UN Global Compact Network Australia. Angeli graduated from UC Berkeley, School of Law in 2020. While there, Angeli was the co-President of Women in Tech Law and an editor of the Berkeley Technology Law Journal. Prior to her legal career, Angeli served at the White House Office of Management and Budget under the Obama Administration and served as a policy advisor at the Ministry of Finance in the Government of Chile.
Adam Sterling
Assistant Dean at Berkeley Law
Adam Sterling is the Assistant Dean for Executive Education and Revenue Generation at Berkeley Law. In addition to his administrative duties, Adam teaches courses and oversees research on topics including venture finance, corporate governance, and ESG.
Previously he was a startup and venture capital attorney at Gunderson Dettmer and the co-founder and director of the Sudan Divestment Task Force and Conflict Risk Network. Adam’s writings and work have appeared extensively in the press; including contributions to The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, and The New York Times. He has appeared on a number of broadcast news programs, including CNN’s Situation Room and CNBC’s Street Signs.
Research Associates & Course Facilitators
Silvia Fregoni
J.S.D. Candidate ’24, Berkeley Law
Danielle Santos
Research Associate, Business in Society Institute
Speakers | The ESG Beat
Afra Afsharipour
Professor of Law at University of California, Davis School of Law
Rick Alexander
Founder or The Shareholder Commons, Author of The Benefit Corporation Law & Governance
Allison Bennington
Partner at PJT Partners
Krystal Berrini
Partner at PJT Camberview
Lloyd Carney
Independent Director, Visa Inc. and Chairman & CEO, Carney Global Ventures, LLC
Rob Chesnut
Former Chief Ethics Officer at Airbnb & Author of Intentional Integrity
Susan Mac Cormac
Chair of Social Enterprise + Impact Investing Group and Co-Chair of Energy + Cleantech Group at Morrison & Foerster LLP
Hilary Dessouky
General Counsel at Patagonia
Heidi Dubois
Global Head of ESG at Edelman
Jaren Dunning
Human Rights Director at PepsiCo
Robert Eccles
Visiting Professor of Management Practice at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Michelle Edkins
Managing Director at BlackRock Investment Stewardship
Gina-Gail Fletcher
Professor of Law, Duke Law
Kaye Foster
Board Director
Bruce Freed
President and Co-founder, Center for Political Accountability
Silvia M. Garrigó
Faculty at University of Miami Herbert Business School
Stavros Gadinis
Professor of Law at Berkeley Law
John Goldstein
Head of the Sustainable Finance Group at Goldman Sachs
Kent Greenfield
Professor of Law at Boston College Law School
Keir Gumbs
Chief Legal Officer at Broadridge
Jeff Hales
Professor of Accounting, University of Texas at Austin & Chair, SASB – Sustainability Accounting Standards Board
Vanessa Havard-Williams
Partner at Linklaters LLP
James Hawley
Head Applied Research, TruValue Labs and Professor of Economics and Business, Saint Mary’s College of California
Alex Heath
Executive Vice President, Social Purpose at Edelman
Lori Heinel
Executive Vice President & Deputy Global Chief Investment Officer at State Street Global Advisors
Chris Hoofnagle
Adjunct Professor of Law, Berkeley Law & UC Berkeley School of Information Co-Director, Berkeley Center for Law & Technology
Seth Jaffe
Executive Vice President & General Counsel at Levi Strauss & Co.
Sonia Katyal
Professor of Law, Berkeley Law and Co-Director, Berkeley Center for Law & Technology
Courteney Keatinge
Director at Glass Lewis, ESG Research
Tom Lin
Professor of Law, Temple University School of Law
Dorothy Lund
Assistant Professor of Law at USC Gould School of Law
Veronica Root Martinez
Professor of Law at Notre Dame Law School
Kilian Moote
Director, Forced Labor & Human Trafficking at Humanity United
Melissa Murray
Professor of Law at NYU
Faris Natour
Director & Lecturer, Human Rights & Business Initiative for the Center for Responsible Business, Haas School of Business – University of California, Berkeley
Chris Pinney
Founding President of High Meadows Institute
Elizabeth Pollman
Professor of Law at University of Pennsylvania
Chloe Poynton
Co-Founder & Principal at Article One Advisors
Veena Ramani
Former Senior Program Director, Capital Market Systems at CERES
Eunice Rho
Deputy Director, Strategic Partnerships, ACLU
Bill Savitt
Partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Anne Sheehan
Senior Adviser at PJT Partners
Anne Simpson
Interim Managing Investment Director, Board Governance & Sustainability at CalPERS
Steven Davidoff Solomon
Professor of Law and Faculty Director at Berkeley Center for Law and Business
Leo Strine
Of Counsel, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Former Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court
Gillian Tett
Chair of Editorial Board & Editor-at- Large at Financial Times, US
Brian Tomlinson
Director of Research at CECP’s CEO Investor Forum
Anne Tucker
Faculty Director, Legal Analytics & Innovation Initiative at Georgia State University College of Law
Amy Weaver
President & Chief Financial Officer at Salesforce
Sandy Tesch Wilkins
Director, Forced Labor & Human Trafficking at Humanity United
Cynthia Williams
Professor of Law at Osgoode Hall Law School
Tim Youmans
Director at Hermes EOS
Rupert Younger
Director, Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Josh Zinner
CEO at Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility
Accessibility
For disability accommodation requests and information, please contact Danielle Santos at dsantos@law.berkeley.edu. Please attempt to make your service request with as much advance notice as possible.
