Speakers

John Buttanshaw, partner, operational risk & envionment, co-head of ESG & impact, Travers Smith

John regularly advises on a range of ‘real world’ compliance and risk management matters – from human rights, safety and welfare through to business ethics and financial crime.

A true expert in the field, John advises on contentious and non-contentious matters across the spectrum of environmental, safety, planning and sector specific regulatory laws. On the non-contentious side, John has particular expertise in permitting and licensing on major energy and infrastructure projects, where his cross-function regulatory capability is invaluable. John also has extensive experience in areas including product and chemical compliance, safety risk management and climate change regulation. On the contentious side, John has worked on matters ranging from major Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive enforcement actions through to cross-border product recalls and product liability claims.

John also has extensive experience in advising clients (particularly in the investment sector) on an array of wider risk and governance matters. These range from anti-bribery and corruption, modern slavery and other business ethics issues, through to export controls, sanctions and market access considerations.

 

Varnika Chawla, director, legal, Climate Asset Management

 

Heather Gagen, head of dispute resolution, co-head of ESG & impact, Travers Smith

Heather has a broad commercial litigation practice, covering the spectrum of high-value and complex disputes (including large scale group claims).  This experience includes disputes which concern ESG issues, including environmental damage, human rights and product liability claims. Heather has particular experience in novel and large-scale tort claims, including “parent company liability” claims. She is highly experienced in claims involving international and foreign law elements. Her clients include corporates, multinational organisations, banks, financial institutions and private equity houses with business interests across a broad range of sectors.

Adam Heppinstall KC, barrister, Henderson Chambers

Adam Heppinstall KC is a Barrister at Henderson Chambers. He particularly specialises in group actions in the High Court.

These have ranged from pharmaceutical product liability, through environmental damage, to more recently, modern slavery, gender-based violence and human rights abuses.

Many have an international mass tort element, encompassing jurisdictional challenges, the UNGPs/OECD Guidelines, and increasingly, greenwashing and climate change.

Mark Maurice-Jones, general counsel & compliance officer, UK & Ireland, Nestlé

Mark Maurice-Jones leads a team of 15 staff dedicated to shaping the agenda of Nestlé UK & Ireland through proactive business partnerships and driving a culture of integrity. He advises on many elements of ESG and is a member of Nestle UK & Ireland’s  ESG “Force for Good” Committee. Before joining Nestlé Mark worked for 15 years with Kimberly-Clark in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Mark started his legal career as a competition lawyer with international law firms in London and Brussels.

Simon Pugh, partner, Portland Communications
Simon leads Portland Communication’s Litigation and Disputes team, working alongside lawyers, barristers, and other disputes professionals to provide strategic communications support on litigation and contentious issues to legal teams and their clients. Based in London but working across jurisdictions, Simon has advised on a broad range of disputes, including extensive experience in ESG-related litigation and group proceedings. Simon produces an annual research report for Portland analysing the UK public’s perceptions of ESG, class actions, and securities litigation.

Stephen Townley, chair of the advisory board, Global Sustainable Sport

Stephen has combined a career in business and the law. In business he has served as general counsel, board member and chairman of private and public companies.  In law he is a solicitor. He was founder and senior partner of the international law firm Townleys, which was recognised as a trailblazer in the evolution of the sports industry. He is known more recently as a tech founder and investor as well as for using skills acquired as a practicing arbitrator, mediator and international neutral at JAMS and WIPO. He is committed to promote ADR to improve longevity and sustainability in business relationships.

 

Oliver Wright, sustainability manager, Clyde & Co
Oliver sits within Clyde & Co’s Responsible Business team as Sustainability Manager, helping the firm to reach its global Net Zero targets and broader sustainability goals through a variety of programmes and engagement with colleagues, clients and suppliers. Prior to joining Clyde & Co in 2023 he gained over 15 years’ experience in sustainability across the private, public and third sectors, including consultancy, facilities management, community engagement and policy advisory roles, following an academic background in mechanical and environmental engineering.