Direction of Travel for ESG: What to Expect Next

ESG has evolved from a voluntary framework into a central pillar of corporate compliance and risk management. What was once addressed through internal policies is now embedded in binding obligations, with shareholders, stakeholder, regulators, and courts playing an increasingly active role in scrutinizing corporate conduct. This session places ESG within its broader regulatory and judicial context, highlighting recent legislative developments, the growing relevance of climate-related litigation, and the patterns currently shaping ESG enforcement. It will also explore how these developments are signalling future regulatory and litigation trends, offering insights into how corporate obligations may continue to expand across jurisdictions.

Presenters

Fernando Hurtado de Mendoza

Partner, Kennedys Law

Lima

Fernando Hurtado de Mendoza is a partner based in Kennedys’ Lima office, with extensive experience in corporate & commercial, insurance and aviation law, recognized by Chambers & Partners, Who’s Who Legal and Legal 500. His corporate practice focuses on advising local and foreign clients in their commercial needs, including sustainability and ESG matters. He chairs the ESG Committee of IPBA while being the Global Deputy Head of Kennedys’ Sustainability and ESG practice group.

Fernando has also chaired IPBA’s Aviation and Aerospace Committee, as per his experience in aircraft finance, claims handling of aviation losses and regulatory matters.

Currently, he is the president of the Peruvian Association of Insurance Law and a member of the steering committee of the Reinsurance Working Group of the Ibero Latin American Committee of the International Association of Insurance Law, as a result of his experience on insurance advisory and claims handling related to several insurance lines.

John Buttanshaw

Partner, Travers Smith Llp

London

John is a Partner at the leading UK law firm Travers Smith, specialising in regulatory laws, risk management and compliance across the field of ESG and sustainability, as well as advising on wider environmental, welfare, energy, and product laws. As co-Head of ESG & Impact at the firm, he is responsible for leading its innovative, award-winning and market-leading cross-practice ESG offering, including in relation to transactions, disputes, investigations and financings. John regularly counsels a range of major international corporates, investors and other financial market participants on UK, EU and international ESG-focused projects – from reporting, through to supply chain risk management and diligence, compliance and investigations. John is recognised in Legal 500 as a ‘Rising Star’ for Environmental law and is also listed as a ‘Green Ambassador’ in recognition of his leading work in the sustainability space.

Pavi Jain

Partner, Khaitan & Co

Mumbai

Pavi Jain is a Partner at Khaitan & Co, Mumbai, where she is part of the Private Equity and M&A practice group, and co-leads the ESG practice. She advises leading Indian and global clients on ESG strategy, sustainable finance, climate-risk governance, and ESG integration in M&A and private equity transactions, including complex cross-border deals. Pavi has acted for marquee global investors, including Blackstone, TPG and Temasek, and regularly works with financial sponsors, lenders and corporates.

She is the Vice Chair of the ESG Committee of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) and is a frequent speaker at IPBA, IBA and other global ESG and sustainability conferences, with a particular focus on transition finance, Global South perspectives, and ESG issues in dealmaking. Pavi is also part of a high-level CII working group contributing to policy recommendations on corporate ESG transition planning for submission to the Government of India, and has been part of the President’s delegation of Xynteo on the UK–India Green and Sustainability Corridor, engaging with policymakers, investors and industry leaders.

Her work has been widely recognised, including being named Ladies Who Lead – Rising Star 2025, Asia Pacific Legal Advisor 2025, and Legal Era – Woman Lawyer of the Year 2024, among other accolades.

Dr Thomas Zwissler

Partner, Zirngibl Rechtsanwaelte Partmbb

Munich

Thomas is a partner at German law firm ZIRNGIBL, a full service business law firm with offices in Munich, Berlin and Frankfurt. His practice focuses on Corporate and Banking law as well as Capital Markets and Corporate Finance transactions. He has extensive experience in Private Equity and Venture Capital financing, M&A-and Takeover-Transactions and Outsourcing-Projects. Thomas is particularly dedicated to the intersections of his areas of expertise with technological developments (e.g. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain Technology, etc.) as well as ESG-standards and regulations (e.g. Sustainable Finance, Impact Investing, etc.).

Thomas has extensive experience as member of supervisory and advisory boards of various corporations and associations.

In IPBA he serves as Jurisdictional Council Member Germany and he is the Past-Chairman of the Banking, Finance and Securities Committee.

Sachin Mishra

General Counsel & Company Secretary, Tata Consulting Engineers Limited

With over 18 years of distinguished experience, Mr. Mishra is a seasoned legal and governance professional known for his strategic acumen and leadership in Corporate Governance, Legal Affairs, Company Secretarial functions, Contracts and Litigation Management, Mergers and Acquisitions, Compliances and IPR strategy. His expertise spans across domestic and international contract management, corporate governance, board advisory, high-stake litigations, arbitration, mediation, policy advocacy, regulatory compliance etc.

Mr. Mishra currently serves as a Board Member of Ecofirst Services Limited, a TATA Enterprise. His thought leadership is recognized across the industry through his contributions to the ESG & Sustainability Board of ICSI, the National Legal Committee at CII, and as Chairman of the CII Legal Reform Sub-Committee (IT/ITES).

His contributions have earned him numerous prestigious accolades, including: