ESG in the Boardroom: Episode 1: Director’s Fiduciary Duties and Corporate Purpose

In this episode, host Stephen Pike, partner at Gowling WLG in Toronto, talks with Bruce Dravis about Directors’ Fiduciary Duties, Corporate Purpose and Stakeholder Interests, the three pillars of the Board’s engagement on ESG. Stephen A. Pike is a Toronto-based partner at Gowling WLG and co-leader of the firm's Canadian ESG Advisory Services practice. As a senior legal advisor to Canadian, American, and global businesses, Stephen regularly advises on corporate, governance, ESG, transactional, operational, and risk management issues, including supply chain, regulatory, product distribution, compliance, as well as product liability matters. He also advises businesses outside of Canada on setting up operations in Canada and bringing new products and services into the Canadian market. He is co-editor of ESG in the Boardroom: A Guidebook for Directors, published by the American Bar Association. He writes and speaks frequently on ESG issues and how businesses can address the risk of modern slavery, forced labour, and child labour in their operations and supply chains. Stephen is a member of the board of directors of the International Commission of Jurists – Canada; and co-chair of the ESG Subcommittee of the Corporate Governance Committee of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association. He also serves on the Canadian Cancer Society's Finance, Audit, and Risk Management Committee. Bruce Dravis has more than 30 years of experience representing clients in corporate and securities matters with an emphasis on corporate governance. Bruce F. Dravis joined the Sacramento office of Downey Brand LLP as a partner in 2001. He serves as outside corporate counsel to publicly traded corporations, privately held corporations, and investors.