Mike Blankenship Discusses Winston’s Newly Formed Environmental, Social, and Governance Advisory Team

Winston recently launched a new team that will focus on helping corporate boards and management teams navigate ethical investing and related legal issues. Winston’s ESG, or Environmental, Social, and Advisory Governance Team, is co-chaired by Houston-based Partners Eric Johnson and Mike Blankenship and includes Partners Mike Melbinger, Eleni Kouimelis, Cardelle Spangler, and Rex Sessions, Of Counsel Stephanie Sebor; and London Partner Peter Crowther.

Mike told Law360 that although the ESG Advisory Team officially launched on August 6, its attorneys had already been working on ESG matters such as crisis management and stakeholder activism. He said the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the main reasons the firm decided to take the next step and make the team official.

“We see COVID-19 as an accelerant of ESG,” Mike said. “It was something that was very strong in Europe in the last decade, but it’s really come into the United States lately. With COVID, supply chain resiliency is really important now. Diversity inclusion and making sure you have the right kind of makeup is also very important at this time.”

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