Alexandra N. Farmer, P.C.

Publications

Author, “Environmental, Social & Governance Law ESG Integration in Contracts: Trends and Opportunities 2025,” ICLG's 2025 Environmental, Social & Governance Law Report, January 2025

“An ESG checklist for in house general counsel,” New Private Markets, January 2, 2024

“COP28, Dubai: $30B Investment Fund, Carbon Markets Initiatives Reflect Increasing Momentum Behind Private Financing for Climate Solutions and Energy Transition,” Kirkland Alert, December 20, 2023

“UK’s Financial Conduct Authority Publishes Final Sustainability Disclosure Requirements,” Kirkland Alert, December 7, 2023

“California Legislature Regulates Voluntary Carbon Market and Climate-Related Claims,” Kirkland Alert, October 5, 2023

“SEC Adopts Amendments to Expand the Scope of the ‘Names Rule,’” Kirkland Alert, October 3, 2023

“Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures Publishes Final Framework for Reporting on Nature-Related Issues,” Kirkland Alert, September 27, 2023

“California Legislature Passes Landmark Climate Disclosure Bills,” Kirkland Alert, September 21, 2023

“ISSB Releases Final Global Sustainability Disclosure Standards,” Kirkland Alert, June 29, 2023 

“Crisis Preparedness in the Rapidly Evolving Vulnerability Landscape: Ten Questions for Board Chairs to Ask to Prepare for Shareholder Activism, Hostile Takeovers, Short Attacks, (Anti-)ESG Pressure and Other Emergent Threats,” Kirkland Governance Update, June 8, 2023

“Private Market Impact Investing: A Turning Point,” World Economic Forum White Paper, April 2023

“California Climate Disclosure Bills Would Have Far-Reaching Implications for Companies Doing Business in the State,” Kirkland Alert, April 14, 2023

“PFAS Update: European Chemicals Agency Publishes Proposal That Would Ban or Severely Restrict the Manufacture, Use and Marketing of Thousands of Broadly Used Man-Made PFAs Chemicals,” Kirkland Alert, February 15, 2023

“UN Conference Signals Swell in Private Sector’s Green Efforts,” Law360, January 31, 2023

“U.N. Biodiversity Conference Signals Growing Emphasis on Private Sector Action on Nature Conservation and Restoration in 2023," Kirkland Alert, January 19, 2023

“SEC Continues Enforcement Scrutiny in ESG Claims by Investment Advisers,” Kirkland AIM, December 12, 2022

“Enhanced Disclosure Requirements and Potential Multi-Jurisdictional Considerations Raised by the SEC’s Proposed ESG Rule," Private Equity Law Report, August 2, 2022

“The Major Questions Doctrine Reigns Supreme in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency — Implications for Climate Policy and Impact Investing,” Kirkland Alert, July 6, 2022

“SEC Proposes Pair of Long-Awaited ESG Rules; Non-ESG Funds Swept Up as Well,” Kirkland Alert, June 3, 2022

“SEC Proposes Enhanced Disclosure by Certain Advisers on ESG Investment Practices,” Kirkland AIM, June 3, 2022

“New Framework Announced for Assessing and Reporting Nature-Related Financial Risks,” Kirkland Energy & Infrastructure Blog, May 11, 2022

“ISSB’s Proposed Framework Seeks to Unify Global Sustainability Disclosure Standards,” Kirkland Alert, May 11, 2022

“SEC Proposes New Climate Disclosure Requirements,” Kirkland Alert, March 24, 2022

“Directors and Executives Position Themselves to Lead on Climate,” Kirkland Energy & Infrastructure Blog, March 16, 2022

“Increasing Focus on Biodiversity-Related Financial Risk Presents New Challenges and Opportunities in Energy and Infrastructure,” Pratt’s Energy Law Report Vol. 22-2, February 2022 

“TCFD Issues New Guidance as Its Climate Reporting Framework Continues to Gain Traction,” Kirkland Alert, November 10, 2021

“Increasing Focus on Biodiversity-Related Financial Risk Presents New Challenges and Opportunities in Energy and Infrastructure,” Kirkland Energy & Infrastructure Blog, November 5, 2021

“SEC Responds to Investor Demand for Climate Risk, Human Capital Management Disclosures,” Kirkland Blog Post, October 7, 2021

“Surging Sustainable Finance Market Presents Opportunities for Energy and Infrastructure,” The Real Estate Finance Journal, October 1, 2021

“The SEC’s Recent and Planned Activity on Climate Change Disclosures: What Companies Can Do To Prepare,” Kirkland Alert, October 1, 2021

“Preparing for Potential Updates to Human Capital Management & Board Diversity Disclosure Requirements,” Kirkland Alert, October 1, 2021

“Financing for the Future: Surging Sustainable Finance Market Presents Challenges, Opportunities,” Kirkland Alert, August 16, 2021 

“CCS Initiative Uses Carbon Accounting and Verification Standards to Boost Low-Carbon Energy Investments,” The Texas Lawbook, August 9, 2021

“Biden Administration Affirms Burgeoning Interest in Carbon Capture Investments,” Kirkland Blog Post, July 13, 2021

“Sustainable Finance Opportunities for Energy & Infrastructure,” Kirkland Blog Post, May 24, 2021

“Public and Private Sector Commitments and Announcements from President Biden’s Leaders Summit on Climate,” Kirkland Blog Post, April 26, 2021

“Risk Alert: SEC’s Examination Division Issues ESG Risk Alert for Investment Advisers,” Kirkland AIM, April 19, 2021

“Improving Climate Governance Under Biden,” Corporate Secretary, March 23, 2021

“Kirkland & Ellis Discusses ESG and Climate Regulatory Developments Affecting Private Equity,” The CLS Blue Sky Blog, March 11, 2021

“Innovation and Investments in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage,” Kirkland Blog Post, March 11, 2021

“Enforcement Task Force Announcement is Latest Sign of SEC Focus on ESG and Climate,” Kirkland Alert, March 8, 2021

“Industry Efforts to Scale Voluntary Carbon Markets Advance,” Kirkland Blog Post, March 5, 2021

“Biden Administration’s Energy, Environmental and Climate Policies: Week In Review (February 19, 2021),” Kirkland Energy & Infrastructure Blog, February 19, 2021

“Expected ESG and Climate Regulation Impacting Private Equity Under the Biden Administration,” Kirkland Alert, February 16, 2021

“Biden Administration’s Energy, Environmental, and Climate Policies: Week in Review,” Kirkland Blog Post, January 29, 2021

“Biden Administration is Off to a Fast Start: Day One Actions on Energy, Environmental, and Climate Issues,” Kirkland Blog Post, January 21, 2021

“Pathways to Implement Biden’s Climate Change Policy,” Bloomberg Law Environment & Energy Report, December 9, 2020

“CFTC Panel Calls for Sweeping Climate Change Risk Regulation,” Bloomberg Law, September 28, 2020

“Bloomberg Launches Data-Driven ESG Scores for the Oil & Gas Sector,” Kirkland Blog Post, September 16, 2020

“Making and Keeping Corporate Climate Commitments: Part 2,” Law360, August 12, 2020

“Making and Keeping Corporate Climate Commitments: Part 1,” Law360, August 11, 2020

“Four Key Steps to Assessing and Mitigating Climate Risk,” Kirkland Blog Post, July 2020

“U.S. Regulators Increase Focus on ESG as Investor Demand Grows: What Private Equity Firms Need to Know,” KirklandPEN, July 2020

“COVID-19 Offers Force Majeure Lessons for Climate Planning,” Law360, July 14, 2020

“Mitigating Climate Risk: Solutions for PE Firms to Develop a Physical Climate Risk Program,” (Part Two of Two), Private Equity Law Report, July 2020

“Mitigating Climate Risk: Advantages to PE Firms Pursuing Climate Risk Programs and Pitfalls to Avoid,” (Part One of Two), Private Equity Law Report, June 2020

Co-Author, “The Ripple Effect of EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Investments in U.S. Financial Sector,” Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, June 10, 2020

Co-Author, “The Industrial Evolution: An Introduction to ESG Principles and their Importance to the Energy & Infrastructure Sector,” Kirkland Blog Post, June 6, 2020

Co-Author, “New Proposed Regulations for Carbon Sequestration Tax Credits Answer Key Questions,” Kirkland Blog Post, June 1, 2020

“U.S. Supreme Court Splits the Difference on CWA Permitting for Groundwater Discharges,” Kirkland Energy & Infrastructure Blog, May 14, 2020

“New Pipeline and Other Utility Line Projects in Limbo Pending Federal Court Review of Nationwide Permit,” Kirkland Energy & Infrastructure Blog, May 14, 2020

Co-Author, “Three Key Developments in ESG and Sustainable Investing,” Kirkland Alert, October 21, 2019

“FSB Climate Disclosure Framework Poised For 2020 Traction,” Law360, September 24, 2019

“Up in the Air: The Affordable Clean Energy Rule Faces Litigation Challenges and Resulting Regulatory Uncertainty,” Kirkland Alert, September 6, 2019

“China’s New Soil Pollution Prevention Law Creates Obligations and Liabilities for Companies with Industrial Sites in China,” Kirkland Alert, January 23, 2019

“FSB Climate Disclosure Framework Poised for 2020 Traction,” Law360, September 24, 2019

Co-Author, “Don't Let PFAS Leave a Mark on Your Business Transaction,” Law360,February 2, 2018

Seminars

Speaker, “Advancing and Protecting Value Creation Through Contracts,” NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business’ 2nd Annual Private Equity Sustainability Practicum, December 10, 2024

Moderator, “Allocator Outlook: What is Driving Investment to Impact Funds for Different Types of LP’s,” PEI Impact Investor Summit, November 12, 2024

Speaker, “Advising for Change: How Legal Teams Can Drive Impact,” Builder’s Vision: Advising for Change, October 23, 2024

Speaker, “ESG in Exits Webinar: Capturing Value & Mitigating Risks,” Kirkland Seminar, June 5, 2024

Speaker, “SEC Regulatory Outlook: Rulemaking Priorities, Exams and ESG,” ICI Leadership Summit, May 23, 2024

Moderator, “ESG: Navigating a Growing Expectation,” Markets Group’s Private Equity New York Forum, May 15, 2024

Speaker, “Climate Investing Opportunities,” Women In Climate Investing & Finance, May 7, 2024

Speaker, “A Busy Year for Carbon and Environmental Markets,” April 25, 2024

Speaker “New Greenhouse Gas Disclosure, Attestation, and Financial Statement Disclosure Requirements” Practicing Law Institute, April 18, 2024 

Panelist, “Breaking News – Update on the SEC’s Finalized Disclosure Rule,” Compliance Week National Conference, April 2024

Speaker, “Briefing on SEC’s Final Climate Disclosure Rules,” Kirkland Webinar, March 12, 2024

Speaker, “Anti- and Pro- ESG and DEI Developments,” Cambridge Forum on North American Infrastructure Investments, February 4, 2024

Speaker, “ESG: Emerging Regulatory Risks in the U.S. and Europe,” International Bar Association Webinar, June 28, 2023

Speaker, “Is ESG Scrutiny Good for Private Markets,” Kayo Sustainable Investing Summit, June 12, 2023

Moderator, “Updates on 'E': Regulatory and Market Trends,” New York City Bar’s Corporate Counsel Symposium: ESG for In-House Lawyers, March 31, 2023

Speaker, “ESG Can’t Wait: Get Ahead of the Curve of Final SEC Climate Reporting Rules,” Moderne Ventures Webinar, March 23, 2023

Moderator, “Climate & Carbon – A Look into The Future,” Impact Capitalism Summit – Big Path Capital, July 20–21, 2022

Moderator, “Committed and Intentional: When Capital and Communities Collide,” Kayo Women’s Private Equity and ESG Investment Summits, June 13–15, 2022

Speaker, “Role of Private Equity in Decarbonization,” Financial Times’ Climate Capital Live, March 2022

Moderator, “How Well Positioned is Private Equity to Turn the Crisis into an Opportunity?” PEI Women in Private Markets Summit, December 1–2, 2021

Moderator, “ESG: From Theoretical to Reality,” PEI Women’s Private Capital Summit, November 18–19, 2021

Speaker, “Hot Topics in ESG Investing,” IAA’s 2021 Leadership Conference: A View for the C-Suite, September 29–October 1, 2021

Speaker, “ABA Business Law Young Lawyers,” ESG Panel, September 24, 2021

"Energy, Climate, ESG & Environmental Matters in Congress and the Biden Administration," Kirkland Webinar, September 23, 2021

Speaker, “ESG, Sustainable, and Impact Investing: Returns, Profits, and Distressed Potential,” TMA Town Hall, June 16, 2021

Speaker, “The Route to Scaling Impact: Dedicated Funds vs. Integration with ESG?” PEI Impact Investor Forum, May 24–26, 2021 

Speaker, “Energy, Climate, ESG, Environmental and Tax Matters in the First 100 Days of the Biden Administration,” Kirkland Webinar, May 11, 2021

Speaker, “Re-Mapping the Conceptual Framework. What Does Modern Infrastructure ESG Data Look Like?” Infrastructure Journal Global ESG North America, March 24–25, 2021

“Innovation and Investments in Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (ESG & Impact Webinar Series),” Kirkland Webinar, February 24, 2021

“Shareholder Becoming Stakeholders – How ESG is No Longer and Optional Approach for Investors, Boards, and Management,” UBS & ICR Invitation: 2021 Proxy Season Preview, December 1, 2020

“Energy, Climate and Environmental Matters in a Biden Administration,” Kirkland Webinar, November 19, 2020

“ESG and PE – The Missing Pieces!” Donnelley Financial Solutions, October 2020

“Energy Innovation: Outlook, Opportunities and Challenges for U.S. Carbon Capture and Storage Projects,” Webinar, Kirkland Seminar, July 28, 2020

Speaker, "Due Diligence, Disclosure, and Insurance: Key Updates," The American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education, Environmental Law 2020, February 7, 2020

“Public Company Governance: ESG and Climate-Related Financial Risk,” Kirkland Seminar, January 23, 2020

Press Mentions

Quoted, “ESG law and policy under a Republican US administration – reaction,” Forward Law Review, November 7 2024

Quoted, “5 Key Roles Needed to Comply with SEC, EU and California Climate Disclosure Regulations,” Trellis, May 21, 2024

Quoted, “'Huge market opportunity' for some law firms during ESG backlash,” ABA Journal, August 1, 2024

Quoted, “Elections Impact on Climate,” The Wall Street Journal, November 20, 2021

Finalist Named for The National Law Journal Legal Awards 2021,” The National Law Journal, August 23, 2021

Quoted, “Growth of ESG Practice,” New Private Markets, August 12, 2021

Quoted, “ESG-Related Disclosures,” Law360, August 10, 2021

Quoted, “Climate Considerations in the Energy M&A Space,” Bloomberg News, April 29, 2021

“The SEC ESG Risk Alert Explained by Lawyers,” New Private Markets, April 4, 2021

Quoted, “Biden Administration Impact on Environmental Finance Policy and Significance of Rejoining the Paris Agreement,” Capital Monitor, February 4, 2021

“DOL proposal may slow private credit's adoption of ESG principles,” Refinitiv, August 20, 2020

“Businesses Break Contracts and Blame Virus. Is Climate Next?” E&E News, August 5, 2020

“Insurers Exclude PFAS Due to Regulatory Uncertainty, Chilling Transactions,” InsideEPA.com, February 13, 2020

Quoted, “3 Questions After EPA’s New Water Contamination Action,” Law360, February 15, 2019

Ranked in Chambers Crisis & Risk Management for Global-wide ESG 2021–2024

Ranked in Chambers USA for Impact Investing in 2024

Ranked in Chambers USA for Climate Change in 2023 and 2024

Recognized in Private Equity International’s Future 40 2023

Recognized as Top23 in ’23: Women Leaders in ESG by Kayo

Recognized in Lawdragon for “500 Leading U.S. Environmental Lawyers,” 2023–2025

Recognized in Lawdragon for “500 Leading U.S. Energy Lawyers,” 2023–2025

Recognized as one of the Emerging Women Leaders in Private Practice by DCA Live in 2022

Recognized by National Law Journal as a “D.C. Rising Star” in 2021

Recognized by the National Law Journal in the 2021 edition of Energy & Environment Trailblazers

Recognized in The Legal 500 United States as a Next Generation Lawyer for Environment: Transactional in 2020 and 2021

Ranked in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Environment: Mainly Transactional in 2019–2022

Recognized in The Legal 500 United States for Environment: Transactional in 2018 and 2019

Recognized by Law360 as a “Rising Star” for Environmental in its “Top Attorneys Under 40” list in 2018