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What's the competition all about?

The past year has been one of great change – we have faced a global pandemic, climate change moved has up the agenda, and the movement to bring racial injustice and inequality to an end has gained real momentum. At the same time, we have become increasingly reliant on technology in our personal and professional lives.

The past year has also highlighted the extent to which Africa’s economic and social fortunes are dependent on effectively managing the realities of climate change and harnessing the potential of its growing populations and rapidly changing social demographics in a way which is sustainable.

African companies and investors into Africa alike can expect to be questioned on their impact on the natural environment, how they manage their relationships with employees, communities and counterparties and how they are governed. All over the world, public perceptions are shifting rapidly, and we expect that many of you are as focused on this subject as we are.

We would love to hear your ideas about what are the key ESG issues that companies should be thinking about as they do business in Africa.

The Linklaters Africa group

For over 50 years, Linklaters has successfully advised clients on numerous landmark transactions throughout the whole of the African continent. Our Africa practice is ranked No. 1 by all of the legal directories and league tables and has more Band 1 rankings than any other law firm. We currently have over 200 live matters relating to Africa.

Click here to read more about the Linklaters Africa Group.

What is ESG?

At Linklaters, our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) team cover a wide range of sectors and contexts, providing advice to clients and helping them to address challenges as they arise.

Environment: A company's impact on the natural environment

Social: How a company manages its relationships (employees, customers, suppliers, communities and society in general)

Governance: How a company is governed

Click here to find out more about our ESG team, the work they do, and what Linklaters is doing as a responsible business.

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Watch Aedamar Comiskey, Senior Partner and Chair, speak more on the importance of ESG, and how we are tackling various issues.

The infographic below outlines what we mean by ESG:

ESG

The brief

Simply answer the question:

"If you were given a chance to speak to the CEO of a large international company, what are the key ESG legal issues that you think their business should focus on following COP26 and why?"

4 Steps to enter

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Step 1: Ensure you are eligible

You must currently be studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at a South African, Nigerian, Ghanaian or Kenyan university. Full T&Cs can be found at the bottom of the page.

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Step 2: Pick a company

Pick a real international company of your choice with an African presence. There are no limitations on the company you pick. If you are struggling, consider businesses that match your personal interests or that you often engage with.

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Step 3: Pick your ESG issues

"ESG" in the broadest sense covers environmental, social and governance issues but consensus on details of the meaning can vary and public perceptions are changing rapidly. We have included a clear infographic above that includes key ESG factors you may want to consider focussing on.

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Step 4: Submit your entry

Submit your answer as a short 450 word blog post. Remember that entries close at 11.59pm on Friday, 28 May!

The Prize

The ESG Open Day
All students who enter will be invited to an exclusive Virtual ESG Open Day! This day will be hosted by the Linklaters ESG team on 23 February 2022 and will be a fantastic opportunity to get to know the firm. During the day, we will announce the teams who have made it to the Grand Final!

The Grand Final
In addition to inviting all entrants to the ESG Open Day, we will be selecting a small number of shortlisted teams. These groups will be invited to the Grand Final taking place on 2 March 2022. At the Grand Final, the shortlisted teams will be required to pitch their ideas to a panel of senior Linklaters lawyers. Not only will you get the opportunity to present your idea to industry experts, but the winning team will also share a prize of £1,000!

 

 

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Sustainable Futures

Explore our Sustainable Futures blog posts, where you will find insights, updates and news from our team of experts on topics in the ESG space.

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