JONES DAY TALKS®: The EU’s ESG Framework: Decoding Sustainability Regulations

Jones Day partner and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Schenk—known for prosecuting Theranos executives Elizabeth Holmes and Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani—discussed corporate fraud investigations and trends in enforcement actions in this JONES DAY TALKS® program released in 2025. New interest in the Theranos matter, prompted primarily by a recently released high-profile documentary on Ms. Holmes, coupled with persistent and significant questions about corporate fraud investigations, make Mr. Schenk’s observations and insights increasingly relevant today.

Recently enacted ESG regulations in the EU require significant due diligence and compliance by corporations relating to supply chain matters, deforestation concerns, packaging rules, labeling, and green environmental claims. Jones Day’s Jürgen Beninca, Armelle Sandrin-Deforge, Aidan Lawes, and Global ESG Chair Howard Sidman discuss the EU’s current ESG landscape and what corporations need to know now.

As NATO Allies continue to increase investments in defence expenditures, opportunities for suppliers, vendors, and contractors abound. Jones Day partner and former Lord Chancellor, Member of Parliament, and Minister of State for Defence Procurement Alex Chalk talks about regulatory frameworks, procurement rules, and what potential vendors need to know about supplying the Alliance.

Jones Day partner Michelle T. Davies and counsel Martin Stewart-Smith lead a panel discussing the United Kingdom’s CATO regime (Competitively Appointed Transmission Owner): what it is, why it’s relevant in the current energy and infrastructure landscape, and what it potentially means for investors and other stakeholders.

Investors, fintech developers, and traditional financial markets participants have waited for U.S. legislators to establish a clear regulatory framework for the digital assets space, and the Clarity Act is designed to do precisely that. Jones Day partner Abradat Kamalpour and Fifth Era’s Matthew Le Merle explain how the proposed legislation would impact regulatory oversight and discuss its potential positive effects on innovations in decentralized finance.

Early decisions relating to the legal structure of a start-up company can have profound tax and financial implications as the business expands, grows, and achieves liquidity. Jones Day partners Tim Curry and Lori Hellkamp talk about the benefits of the Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) exemption and how the correct structuring can significantly impact the eventual return to founders and investors.

Leaving law school and starting a career can feel overwhelming. In fact, a recent survey indicates that nearly half of new law associates believe that law school did not prepare them adequately for their current roles. In this edition of Jones Day Talks’ “Perspectives and Pathways” series, Shirlethia Franklin, Ashley Gullett, and J’Niah Kupoluyi discuss practical steps and strategies new lawyers can consider to shorten the learning curve and position themselves for early success.

Class action filings have surged in recent years and show no signs of slowing. Jones Day Partners Nathalie Smyth, Christine Tran, and Yuri Wehrmeijer discuss the current state of the global class action landscape and address particular developments in Australia, the UK, the Netherlands, and Portugal. The conversation concludes with an explanation of why corporates need a global defence team when faced with a class action.

Jones Day partners Tim Curry and Taylor Stevens are joined by Nick Hoffman, Associate General Counsel, M&A and Venture Capital at Koch. They discuss the general state of the VC market, how Koch evaluates an opportunity, AI deals, the return of the nontraditional investors, and reasons for optimism about 2026.

Ten years after its launch, Jones Day’s annual Perspectives and Pathways Conference remains an exceptional opportunity for first-year students in the early stages of planning a meaningful career path after law school. Caitlin Cahow, Justin McKithen, and Katherine Slivensky talk about the conference’s objectives and programs, making the move from law school to working as a lawyer, and the importance of networking (especially) as a first-year law student.