Two distinct and important trends have emerged in the COVID-19 era for businesses and their boards. Corporate social responsibility and expanding concerns about social justice have become amplified amid the pandemic. Added to this is that investors and Delaware courts are focusing on the role of boards of directors in oversight. The courts are now allowing claims for failures in oversight to be litigated. How has the virus affected these trends and how can boards prepare? Our latest episode of The Sidley Podcast grapples with those questions and many others. Join host and Sidley partner Sam Gandhi as he speaks with one of Sidley’s thought leaders on governance and the risks for boards — Holly Gregory, co-chair of Sidley’s global Corporate Governance and Executive Compensation practice and president of the American College of Governance Counsel. Holly and Sam address what businesses and their boards can do in anticipation of the challenges and opportunities posed by the current landscape.

Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented challenges for employers. Businesses must walk the line between keeping workers safe and respecting their privacy. How do employers ensure a safe and healthy workplace? And how do they manage layoffs, furloughs and benefits in this rapidly deteriorating economic environment? Our latest episode of The Sidley Podcast grapples with those questions and many others. Join host and Sidley partner Sam Gandhi as he speaks with two of Sidley’s thought leaders on the critical issues that employers face—Wendy Lazerson, co-chair of Sidley’s Labor and Employment practice, and Kate Heinzelman, who advises clients on privacy and cybersecurity issues.

The cannabis business is booming. Social acceptance of marijuana has led jurisdictions to legalize its sale and use for both medicinal and recreational reasons. Companies see enormous business opportunities in it. But marijuana is still illegal under federal law. And the political landscape about its regulation is complicated. What should companies know about the opportunities and risks to participating in the market? Our latest episode of The Sidley Podcast grapples with that question and many others. Join host and Sidley partner Sam Gandhi as he speaks with one of Sidley’s thought leaders on cannabis — James Cole, the former deputy attorney general of the United States, where he was the primary author of the “Cole Memo,” a Justice Department memorandum regarding the enforcement of the federal laws prohibiting the sale and distribution of marijuana. Jim is also the global co-leader of Sidley’s White Collar: Government Litigation and Investigations practice. Jim and Sam address what businesses can do in anticipation of the challenges and opportunities posed by this market.

Life sciences companies are rushing to find ways to diagnose, prevent and treat the COVID-19 virus. They face legal challenges, from regulatory oversight to supply chain disruption and product liability. What are the opportunities in trying to solve the COVID-19 virus puzzle? And how do these global innovators handle the risks? Our latest episode of The Sidley Podcast grapples with those questions and many others. Join host and Sidley partner Sam Gandhi as he speaks with two of Sidley’s thought leaders on the critical issues that life sciences companies face—Becky Wood, who leads Sidley’s FDA regulatory practice, and Doro Schramm, an international arbitration partner in the firm’s Geneva, Switzerland office. Together, they address what businesses can do in anticipation of the challenges ahead. 

The COVID-19 virus is spreading around the world and is officially a pandemic. With global markets falling to their lowest since the financial crisis, fears of a recession have increased. As companies scramble to deal with this rapidly evolving and dangerous reality, how do boards of directors react? How do they navigate an M&A transaction or avoid litigation? Our latest episode of The Sidley Podcast grapples with those questions and many others. Join host and Sidley partner Sam Gandhi as he speaks with two of Sidley’s thought leaders on the critical issues that boards face—Yvette Ostolaza, co-global practice leader of Sidley’s Litigation practice, and Brian Fahrney, global practice leader of Sidley’s M&A and Private Equity practices. Together, they address what businesses can do in anticipation of the challenges ahead.

Just as the coronavirus  (COVID-19) has the whole world in crisis, an oil price war is now further roiling global markets and the business world. These seismic events raise substantial legal issues for the energy industry. What is the impact on energy market participants? How can businesses navigate the storm?

Our latest episode of The Sidley Podcast grapples with those questions and many others. Join host and Sidley partner Sam Gandhi as he speaks with one of Sidley’s thought leaders on the energy industry, Cliff Vrielink, co-managing partner of Sidley’s Houston office and global leader of the firm’s Energy and Infrastructure practice. Together, they address what businesses can do in anticipation of the challenges ahead.

Blockchain technology has the ability to transform how business and everyday commercial transactions are being done across industries. This emerging technology represents more than just an incremental improvement in business practices — it could actually disrupt how we do business. What is blockchain, how will it affect the way we communicate and transact with each other and why are cryptocurrencies being used in conjunction with this technology? 

We get answers to these questions and many others on the latest episode of The Sidley Podcast. Podcast host and Sidley partner Sam Gandhi speaks with Lilya Tessler, a partner in the firm’s New York office, who focuses her practice on the corporate and regulatory aspects of blockchain technology.

With a new prime minister and a mandate from the voters, the United Kingdom’s Brexit from the European Union is finally upon us. The day after the referendum in 2016, the most searched for question on the internet in the U.K. was “What is Brexit?” As the departure works itself out, what actually will happen and how businesses should prepare still seems uncertain. As we’ll find out in this episode of The Sidley Podcast, despite the uncertainty, there are things businesses can do in anticipation of the challenges ahead. Podcast host and Sidley partner Sam Gandhi speaks with Nick Brittain, senior counsel in Sidley’s London office, and Nicolas Lockhart, a partner in Sidley’s Geneva office on this pressing topic.

For whose benefit should a corporation be governed? That question would get a very different answer 20 years ago. What’s changed since then? Well a lot, as we found out in the inaugural episode of "The Sidley Podcast" in which we spoke with Thomas Cole, senior counsel and chair emeritus of the Executive Committee of Sidley Austin. Tom shares insights in current issues related to corporate governance and discusses his new book, “CEO Leadership: Navigating the New Era in Corporate Governance.”