Conference Background
2024 Former Edition

2nd US-CEE Connection Weekend

Towards a sustainable world or a dangerous utopia? US & EU perspectives on ESG

June 28-29, 2024
Kraków, Jagiellonian University, Collegium Novum

About the Event

On June 28-29, 2024, UJ and CUA had pleasure to host lawyers, business people, government officials to consider the past, present, and future potential and challenges of ESG and sustainability. Programs took place in the Jagiellonian University's beautiful Collegium Novum just off the main square with a Friday reception and Saturday lunch in other historic Kraków venues.

2nd US-CEE Connection Weekend Conference Poster

Keynote Speakers

Hester Peirce

The Honorable Hester Peirce

Securities and Exchange Commissioner (SEC)

Read Last Year's Speech

Hester M. Peirce was appointed by President Donald J. Trump to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and was sworn in on January 11, 2018. Prior to joining the SEC, Commissioner Peirce conducted research on the regulation of financial markets at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

Phyllis Borzi

The Honorable Phyllis Borzi

Former Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security in the Labor Department

A former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) from 2009 until 2017, overseeing approximately 700,000 private-sector retirement plans and 2.3 million group health plans as well as additional welfare benefit plans that together provide benefits to approximately 150 million Americans.

Jacek Jastrzębski

Jacek Jastrzębski

Chair of the KNF Board, Associate Professor at University of Warsaw

One of the leading Polish specialists in law and finance. He has a legal background as a graduate and professor at the Faculty of Law and Administration of University of Warsaw, as well as economic background as a graduate of SGH Warsaw School of Economics.

Agenda

Friday

June 28, 2024

Pre-conference events

3:00 – 5:00 pm

Informal Roundtable for Speakers and Other Invited Guests

Room 30, Collegium Novum (By invitation)

The Roundtable gives speakers and other invited participants an opportunity for an informal exchange of thoughts. Possible topics include ESG concerns and controversies in the US, Poland, and Europe more generally as well as positions currently taken by stakeholders and interest groups on both sides of the Atlantic.

Facilitated by: Prof. Sarah Duggin, The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law (Catholic Law), Professor of Law (Ret.) and Director, Compliance, Investigations & Corporate Responsibility Program

4:00 – 5:00 pm

Registration

Main Aula, Collegium Novum

Main Program

5:00 – 5:30 pm

Welcomes

Main Aula, Collegium Novum

Consul Jeff Burnett (US Consulate in Krakow)

Dean Prof. Jerzy Pisuliński (UJ)

Dean Prof. Stephen Payne (Catholic Law)

Dean of Attorney-at-Law Bar, Dr Marcin Sala Szczypiński

5:30 – 6:00 pm

Opening Keynote Lecture

Main Aula, Collegium Novum

Prof. Jacek Jastrzębski, Chair of the KNF Board (Polish Financial Supervision Authority); Associate Professor at University of Warsaw

6:00 – 8:00 pm

Panel #1: Conceptualizing ESG and Sustainability

Main Aula, Collegium Novum

This panel addresses multiple perspectives on defining sustainability including philosophical, religious, and international law perspectives on sustainable development. Panelists also consider overarching questions like what is/should be encompassed in ESG, purposes sought to be served, and relative effectiveness of contemplated approaches in achieving those goals.

Moderator: Dr. Wojciech Bańczyk

Panelists:

Ewa Całus, MBA, Plenipotentiary of the Kraków City Mayor for Environmental Education

Dr. Agnieszka Hajos-Iwańska, Advocate (Tech transactions, VC, compliance, ESG), partner at B2RLaw

Dr. Maciej Grodzicki, Assistant Professor, Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Management and Social Communication

Mary Graw Leary, Professor of Law, Catholic Law

Dr. Hab. Małgorzata Podrecka, Vice-President Management Board, Legal Service, Compliance, Sustainability, & Corporate Responsibility, CAN-PACK S.A.

Prof. Piotr Szwedo, Head of the Centre for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Jagiellonian University

Jakub Wiech, Editor in Chief, Energetyka24.com

8:00 – 9:30 pm

Reception

Courtyard of Collegium Maius, Jagiellońska Str. 15

Saturday

June 29, 2024

8:00 – 8:30 am

Registration

Main Aula, Collegium Novum

Information meeting about the UJ-CUA American Law Program for those interested

Main Program

8:30 – 9:00 am

Opening Remarks

Main Aula, Collegium Novum

Bogdan Klich, Senator, Republic of Poland

9:00 – 9:30 am

Where is responsibility for and interest in ESG investment located in the US government?

A dialogue between the Honorable Phyllis C. Borzi & Professor Jack Murphy

Main Aula, Collegium Novum
9:30 – 11:30 am

Panel #2: Differing EU and US Approaches to Promoting ESG goals

Main Aula, Collegium Novum

Many US lawyers are not aware of what the EU is doing regarding ESG. Conversely, some in the EU are surprised by currents in the US including efforts within some states to block ESG directed investment, e.g. in pension funds. This panel provides the basics of where each side is, and explores the differing premises and politics that underlie the differing approaches.

Moderator: Łukasz Chyla

Panel #2 Keynote lecture:

The Honorable Hester M. Peirce, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner

Panelists:

The Honorable Phyllis C. Borzi, Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security of the US Department of Labor (2009–2017), Catholic Law Board of Visitors

Annette Capretta, Chief Counsel, Investment Company Institute (ICI) Global, Washington, DC

Jacek Jastrzębski, Chair of the KNF Board (Polish Financial Supervision Authority); Associate Professor at University of Warsaw

Beata Tylman-Nowakowska, Director of Primary Market Department, Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW)

Małgorzata Szewc, Vice President of the Management Board, Polish Association of Listed Companies (SEG)

11:30 – 12:00 pm

Coffee Break

12:00 – 12:30 pm

Keynote Lecture

Main Aula, Collegium Novum

Jurand Drop, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Finance

12:30 – 2:30 pm

Panel #3: Competing visions of corporate interests and ESG goals

Main Aula, Collegium Novum

It is important to focus on competing visions regarding the rationale for regulation in capital markets and debates about corporate purpose in smaller incorporated ventures as well. Discussion during this panel includes the debate about relative effectiveness of differing approaches to corporations to push toward ESG goals.

Moderator: Łukasz Chyla

Panelists:

Prof. Katarzyna Bilewska, Commercial Law Chair, University of Warsaw. Partner, BLSK Legal

Christopher D. Christian, Financial Services Partner, Dechert LLP, Catholic Law Board of Visitors

Dana M. Muir, University of Michigan, Robert L. Dixon Collegiate Professor of Business, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor at University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business

Prof. Jack W. Murphy, Director, Securities Law Program, Catholic Law

Karolina Opielewicz, Board Member, Polish Chamber of Commerce

Zofia Piwowarek, ESG Chapter Leader, Santander Bank Polska

2:30 – 3:30 pm

Sandwich Break

3:30 – 5:30 pm

Panel #4: Law and Business Perspectives on Practice Challenges in Meeting ESG Requirements

Main Aula, Collegium Novum

This panel builds on the first three panels and talks about practical consequences for businesses and their in-house and outside legal counsel who must deal with compliance with current and contemplated ESG regimes in the US and EU.

Moderator: Dr. Gaspar Kot

Panelists:

Mateusz Jurczyk, Amcham, Branch Director, Krakow & Katowice

Mariusz Mielczarek, Amazon, Regional Director CEE for Public Policy

Dr. Karolina Panfil, Assistant Professor, University of Warsaw

Dr. Maximilian Piekut, LL.M., Counsel, SSW

Seweryn Szwarocki, Polish Economic Society, Chief Executive Officer ESG+ Consulting

Mariusz Wawer, 3M, Head of Government Relations & ESG, East Europe Region

5:30 – 5:35 pm

Thanks

Leah Wortham, Professor Emerita of Law, CUA Director of CUA-UJ Cooperative Programs

6:00 – 7:45 pm

Closing Reception & Buffet

Collegium Novum

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