Kristy Balsanek

Partner

Global Co-Chair, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

Infusing a holistic, integrated and practical approach to ESG throughout businesses and organizations, Kristy serves as a trusted global regulatory advisor supporting their transition toward creating long-term value and sustainability in a rapidly evolving legal and regulatory tapestry across the globe.

Emailkristy.balsanek@us.dlapiper.com

Call+1 202 799 4464

Washington, DC

About

Kristy Balsanek has more than 20 years of legal experience, practicing in both global law firms and in-house roles. Kristy's practice focuses on core sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) areas including regulatory assessments, reporting and disclosures, climate transition, environmental policy, net-zero initiatives, greenwashing, sustainable linked loans, mergers and acquisitions, post-acquisition integration, global supply chain, business and human rights, business ethics, director/officer duties and corporate governance.

Infusing a holistic, integrated and practical approach, Kristy serves as a trusted global regulatory advisor by supporting a wide range of clients in transitioning, transforming and embedding sustainability and ESG throughout their businesses and organizations to create long-term value, resilience and impact in a rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape across the globe. She counsels public and private companies with both US and multinational operations across all sectors with a particular focus on companies doing business in Europe and Asia.

Kristy supports clients in their business strategies to mitigate risk and finds practical solutions for a myriad of ESG legal requirements, voluntary industry standards and stakeholder expectations. Kristy advises clients on the full lifecycle of ESG and sustainability, including the design and implementation of risk based ESG reporting, compliance and governance programs and counseling on risk assessments, corporate policies, supply chain due diligence, complex supplier/strategic partner agreements, M&A, internal and government investigations, reporting, disclosures, audits, trainings, regulatory enforcement and litigation matters.

Kristy serves as the Chair of DLA Piper LLP's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Steering Committee leading the firm's cross-sector integration of sustainability and ESG advisory services across practice areas in collaboration with the firm's lawyers.

Areas of FocusRegulatory and Government Affairs Environment, Health and Safety International Trade Corporate Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations Compliance Environmental, Social and Governance

Bar admissionsDistrict of ColumbiaMaryland

EXPERIENCE

Counseled numerous public and private multi-national companies in the healthcare, industrials, information technology, and consumer goods, food and retail sectors on applicable global sustainability and ESG corporate disclosure laws in the US (e.g., SEC Climate Disclosure Rules, proposed Federal Contractor Climate Disclosure Rule, CA Climate Disclosure Laws), as well as coordinate with DLA International attorneys regarding the applicability and legal requirements of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and the EU Taxonomy), and the rest of world (e.g., Germany, France, Australia, Korea, Japan, Singapore)
- Advised on scope, applicability assessments, legal requirements, gap analyses, global sustainability and ESG compliance programs, annual ESG Reports and ESG legal disclosure horizon scanning
Advised international financial institution on sector-specific US climate disclosure laws and guidance principles
Counseled a US headquartered international consumer goods and retail company on priority sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) laws, including environmental plastics, packaging, deforestation, biodiversity, human rights, modern slavery, forced labor and governance (executive training and oversight)
- Advised on greenwashing and fair-washing litigation trends for proactive monitoring and compliance
Advised a global real estate company on net-zero legislation, benchmarking, reporting, fossil fuel bans and green leasing
Advised a private equity firm on pre-investment ESG due diligence in a global M&A deal, including assessing target's ESG corporate disclosures legal requirements, ESG Compliance Program and ESG litigation risk
- Advised on post-investment recommendations on ESG integration and legal compliance
Counseled industrials company on ESG metrics required by credit rating agencies, ESG corporate disclosure reporting requirements, ESG compliance program requirements, ESG litigation risk and recommendations in preparation for credit rating review/reporting for favorable sustainable financing programs
Advised global industrials company on proactive US greenwashing litigation, drafted marketing guidance and trained marketing team
Advised global technology company on its first ever climate transition plan outlining how the company would transition its existing business model to reach its net-zero goals
Counseled global industrials and technology companies on sustainability and ESG legal requirements, corporate disclosure laws, ESG compliance programs, ESG litigation risk and fiduciary duties
Advised company boards on ESG legal requirements, corporate disclosure laws, ESG compliance programs, ESG litigation risk and fiduciary duties
Advised major global educational organization on global forced labor, modern slavery, human trafficking, child labor and other business human rights (BHR) laws for an ESG Compliance Program
- Reviewed and revised Human Rights Compliance Programs and Policies
Counseled global informational technology company on investor inquiry regarding UN Sustainable Development Goals and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, investigated compliance policies and procedures and drafted investor responses

Education

J.D., George Washington University
Member, The George Washington University Law Review

B.A., American University, School of International Service, cum laude
International Studies and Economics with a minor in German
Study Abroad: The American University in Vienna, Central European Economics and Politics

Pro Bono

Kristy is committed to pro bono work, having served previously as outside pro bono counsel to Women Thrive Worldwide, an international women's rights nonprofit organization.

Media Mentions