• follow us #aijarome
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

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

Fernandes room; Level B-C (-2 floor)

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. It will start by two mock trials with realistic cases, the first one on civil liability of car manufacturers for global warming and the second one on criminal liability of energy trading companies for environmental harm. They will be followed by an armchair discussion on corporate liability with respect to public health and the environment, with a focus on practical experiences.

Detailed schedule:

 

Introduction – Cinzia Catelli, Bär & Karrer (Switzerland) and James Le Gallais, Stewarts (UK)

Mock trial #1

Civil case: Should car manufacturers be liable for global warming?

Litigants:

  • Rim Ben Ammar, Law and More (Belgium)
  • Silvia Dahlberg, Vinge (Sweden)

Chair: Cinzia Catelli, Bär & Karrer (Switzerland)

Judge: Benjamin Wilson, Holland & Knight LLP (US)

Vote by the public

Mock trial #2

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: Thomas Ricard, JP Karsenty & Associés (France)

Discussion on corporate liability with respect to public health and environment with a focus on practical experiences.

Chairs:

  • Damien Devot, Meyer Fabre (France)
  • David Sleight, Kingsley Napley (UK)

Speakers:

  • Sylvie Gallage-Alwis, Signature Litigation (France)
  • Niccolo Landi, Landi (Italy)
  • Elaina Bailes, Stewarts (UK)

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

Thomas Ricard

JP Karsenty & Associés, France

Speaker

Damien Devot

Meyer Fabre, France

Moderator

Chris Atkinson

Lipman Karas, UK

Speaker

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

Thomas Ricard

JP Karsenty & Associés, France