Sarah A. Altschuller

  • Associate
  • Washington, D.C.
  • 202 261 7387 direct
  • 202 467 9687 fax

Sarah Altschuller has been a member of Foley Hoag’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practice since 2003. In this role, Sarah advises a wide range of multinational companies regarding the development and implementation of CSR strategies, policies, and procedures. She provides counsel regarding corporate interactions with socially responsible investors, and advice on stakeholder engagement with local communities, host governments, and non-governmental organizations. She also conducts site-level human rights and labor rights impact assessments, as well as due diligence efforts.

Sarah’s in-depth practical experience includes post-law school studies at North South University in Dhaka, Bangladesh (2002–2003), where she conducted research on how changing international trade regulations impact the country’s garment sector. Before entering law school Sarah conducted social research on publicly-traded domestic and international companies at KLD Research & Analytics, a socially responsible investment firm, currently part of RiskMetrics Group.

Bars and Court Admissions

  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Representative Experience

The following is a brief summary of Sarah's experience and accomplishments:

  • Coordinated the drafting of Newmont Mining Corporation’s Community Relationships Review, a landmark assessment of the company’s relationships with community stakeholders.

  • Conducted an in-depth evaluation of an extractive sector company’s internal human rights impact assessment for an offshore drilling facility. Identified gaps in company’s internal review and made recommendations for the improvement of future assessment efforts.

  • Drafted an overarching strategy document to guide a major agricultural company’s approach to labor relations at all of its global operations.

  • Provided pro bono counsel to the United Nation's special representative on business and human rights, to assist him in his mandate of researching and providing guidance on current and emerging issues in CSR.

  • Participated in monitoring efforts to evaluate whether corporate commitments to respect the labor rights of employees and contractors, including security providers, are being implemented along the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (“BTC”) pipeline.

professional / civic involvement

Co-Chair of the Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility, Section of International Law, American Bar Association
Massachusetts Bar Association
District of Columbia Bar Association
Maryland Bar Association

SPEECHES AND CONFERENCES

  • Panelist, Women in International Law, American Society of International Law (July 29, 2010). 
  • Participant, Expert Meeting of North American Corporate and External Counsel: Exploring Human Rights Due Diligence, hosted by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Business and Human Rights (April 30, 2010)
  • Panelist, ABA Section of International Law, Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility, Teleconference, "CSR and Sustainability: What do these terms mean? Legal and Business Implications for 2010 and Beyond," February 26, 2010
  • Panelist, Clearances and Careers in National Security, Women in International Regulatory Law Symposium, June 18, 2008
  • Panelist, CSR and Human Rights, American Bar Association, Section of International Law Spring Meeting, April 3, 2008
  • Panelist, Operationalizing Global Governance, Indiana University School of Law, March 19-21, 2008

publications