Legal Considerations
in Responsible Investment

In 1995, the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) was assembled by influential investors to promote and advance corporate governance and investor stewardship standards. In 2012, ICGN published its first Model Mandate (Mandate) which provides draft contract clauses for use by asset owners and managers. In April 2019, the UN announced the formation of the Global Investors for Sustainability and Development Alliance (GISD), a group of 25-30 CEOs commissioned for the purpose of achieving the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) by expanding long-term investments for sustainable development.

In 2021, ICGN and GISD decided to combine their expertise and jointly update the Mandate in order to reflect new guidance and developments regarding sustainable investing. ICGN and GISD then enlisted the help of the Grant & Eisenhofer ESG Institute to draft legal ESG clauses in the Mandate, for use by asset owners and managers.  The Mandate, which provides robust guidance on how to incorporate the UN’s SDGs with investor stewardship, was formally launched on June 22, 2022.

The ESG Institute is humbled and honored to have had the opportunity to work alongside ICGN and GISD in crafting the Mandate’s draft legal clauses. The ESG Institute also recently partnered with Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) to provide standardized legal ESG clauses for use in investment management agreements which are featured in PRI’s Investment Manager Appointment Guide.

The ESG Institute welcomes any future opportunities to share its legal skills and expertise in furthering the sustainable investing mission.

View the updated Model Mandate