Academic programme
Corporate accountability for sustainable development
Presented by: Litigation Commission; Commercial Fraud Commission
Workshop #5
DATE & TIME
LOCATION
Thursday, 5 September
14:00 – 16:00
Hotel Parco dei Principi (Meeting room to be communicated in the event mobile app)
DESCRIPTION
Large corporations hold more powers than most states and account for a large part of the human activity effects on public health and the environment. But should they be held liable for harming our planet? Judging by the growing wave of climate and environmental litigation cases against corporations, it seems that this is the case. Pressure mounts on businesses to deliver more concrete actions against the threat of climate change and damages to public health.
The session organised by the Litigation and Commercial Fraud commissions will look at key trends in climate change litigation. The first part will address corporate liability with respect to public health and the environment, with a focus on practical experiences. This will be followed by two mock trials with fictive cases, the first one on the liability of car manufacturers for global warming and the second on the liability of energy trading companies for environmental harm.
Detailed schedule:
Introduction – Cinzia Catelli, Bär & Karrer (Switzerland)
Discussion on corporate liability with respect to public health and environment with a focus on practical experiences.
Speakers:
- Sylvie Gallage-Alwis, Signature Litigation (France)
- Niccolo Landi, Landi (Italy)
- Elaina Bailes, Stewarts (UK)
Moderators:
- David Sleight, Kingsley Napley (UK)
- Damien Devot, Meyer Fabre (France)
Mock trial #1
- Chair: Cinzia Catelli, Bär & Karrer (Switzerland)
- Judge: Benjamin Wilson, Holland & Knight LLP (US)
Civil case: Should car manufacturers be liable for global warming?
Vote by the public
Mock trial #2
Litigants:
- Rim Ben Ammar, Law and More (Belgium)
- Silvia Dahlberg. Vinge (Sweden)
Criminal case: Should energy trading companies be criminally liable for local environment damages related to energy extraction?
Prosecutor and defence lawyer:
- Chris Atkinson, Lipman Karas (UK)
- Magdalena Heyder, Homburger (Switzerland)
Chair: Nicolas Herren, Pestalozzi Attorneys at Law (Switzerland)
Judge: Omar Hegazi, Hegazi (Italy)
Conclusions
SPEAKERS & MODERATORS
Sylvie Gallage-Alwis
Signature Litigation, France
Speaker
Niccolo Landi
Landi, Italy
Speaker
Elaina Bailes
Stewarts, UK
Speaker
Benjamin Wilson
Holland & Knight LLP, US
Speaker
Rim Ben Ammar
Law and More, Belgium
Speaker
Silvia Dahlberg
Vinge, Sweden
Speaker
Omar Massimo Hegazi
Hegazi, Italy
Speaker
Cinzia Catelli
Bär & Karrer, Switzerland
Moderator
Damien Devot
Meyer Fabre, France
Moderator
Chris Atkinson
Lipman Karas, UK
Speaker
James Le Gallais
Stewarts, UK
Moderator
Nicolas Herren
Pestalozzi Attorneys at Law, Switzerland
Moderator
Magdalena Heyder
Homburger, Switzerland
Speaker
David Sleight
Kingsley Napley, UK
Moderator
GENERAL REPORTERS
Cinzia Catelli
Bär & Karrer, Switzerland
Damien Devot
Meyer Fabre, France
Nicolas Herren
Pestalozzi Attorneys at Law, Switzerland
