Past Events

Businesses of all sizes, regions and industries are being impacted internally and externally by toxic political polarization in the United States and beyond.

A conversation with Hon. Leo E. Strine, Jr., former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Delaware, of counsel at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and the Michael L. Wachter Distinguished Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School, and Dorothy S. Lund, Associate Professor of Law, University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, authors of, "Corporate Political Spending Is Bad Business" (Harvard Business Review, Jan-Feb, 2022) In debates over corporate political spending, business…

Amidst increasingly apparent systemic threats – from climate change to inequality to social instability -- business leaders are being confronted with head-spinning dual realities: On the one hand, they are engaged in intensive, sometimes overwhelming efforts to improve their firm’s sustainability and responsiveness to stakeholders. And, on the other, they are consistently challenged that their best efforts do not add up to the scale or speed that is needed. How can this be… and what can be done? With their…

In the debate over whether businesses should take a stand on broad civic, political and societal issues, few have explored how companies influence policy and narratives on issues related to their core businesses and shareholder returns. As the economy, and particularly corporate governance practices, become “financialized,” ”pro-business” political influence has had a major impact on public discourse and economic outcomes. Does the status quo truly benefit all --- or only a few --- ultimate shareholders of corporations and the economy…

A CPRT Expert Dialogue with Kevin Johnson, Election Reformers Network, and Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, The Brennan Center As we head into the fall mid-term elections, experts warn that low trust in American civic institutions is dangerous for representative democracy, civic freedom and the rule of law – as well as the environment for business. Yet trust in American civic institutions has been in decline since the 1970’s and trust in government has not risen above 30% since 2007. (Pew, 5/17/21) What…

A CPRT Expert Dialogue with Bill Shireman of Future500 and In This Together, and Madeleine Para, Citizens Climate Lobby Though it is rarely featured in the news, research shows that most Americans can collaborate on solutions to systemic threats such as climate change. Yet, many of these “solution citizens” feel isolated and discouraged in the current environment of toxic polarization and destructive conflict. To address this challenge, a community of social entrepreneurs has been emerging, working to enable conservatives and…

A CPRT Expert Dialogue with NYU Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Katherine Venice of the Ethical Capitalism Group As hyper-partisanship escalates in the US and beyond, both the left and right are leveling accusations of authoritarianism and even fascism at the other side. Though business leaders may wish they could stay out of the fray, multiple independent sources show the US is facing serious threats to civic institutions, representative democracy, political equality and the rule of law. Given rising trust in…

A CPRT Expert Dialogue with Yousuf Aftab, Director of Atelier Aftab As investor interest in ESG accelerates and new challenges emerge, directors and executives can expect more nuanced legal challenges. Among the most difficult of these are questions about the legal aspects of corporate political responsibility. Please join us for an interactive conversation to explore: As human rights are increasingly recognized as part of the “S” in ESG, how are investors and courts interpreting “political rights?” How can companies identify…