Sarah A. Altschuller
Sarah Altschuller has been a member of Foley Hoag’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practice since 2003. In this role, she advises a wide range of multinational companies regarding the development and implementation of CSR strategies, policies, and procedures. Sarah 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 is a leading contributor to the firm's Corporate Social Responsibility and the Law blog.
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
- U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
Representative Experience
The following is a brief summary of Sarah's experience and accomplishments:
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Coordinated the drafting of Newmont Mining Corporation’s Community Relationships Review, a landmark assessment of the company’s relationships with community stakeholders.
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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.
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Drafted an overarching strategy document to guide a major agricultural company’s approach to labor relations at all of its global operations.
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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.
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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
- “Frontline Lessons from Other Sectors: Learning What Works for the Tech Sector,” Silicon Valley Human Rights Conference (October 25, 2011)
- “Integrating Human Rights Into Corporate Management Systems,” Panelist, International Seminar on Social Responsibility in Mining (October 20, 2011)
- “Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative and the Voluntary Principles: Impact on National Governments,” Panelist, U.S.-Africa Business Summit (October 6, 2011)
- “Human Trafficking: Is the Travel Industry Enabling It?” 2011 Global Congress on Legal, Safety and Security Solutions in Travel (August 28, 2011)
- “Data Security and Privacy for Medical Device, Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Companies,” Elsevier Business Intelligence Webinar (March 29, 2011)
- “Ethical and Practical Challenges for Corporate Lawyers Advising Clients on Human Rights,” Panelist, American Society of International Law Annual Meeting (March 25, 2011)
- “Conflict Minerals and SEC Disclosure,” Compliance Week, Podcast (December 23, 2010)
- “The Evolution of Corporate Accountability for Human Rights Abuses,” Panelist, Fordham Law School, International Law Weekend (October 22, 2010)
- “Corporate Social Responsibility in the Oil and Gas Sector,” Instructor, International Law Institute Seminar (October 12, 2010)
- “Shareholder Advocacy on Social and Environmental Issues,” Panelist, Investor Relations Magazine Think Tank (October 7, 2010)
- “CSR and Sustainability: What Do These Terms Mean? Legal and Business Implications for 2010 and Beyond,” Panelist, Teleconference, ABA Section of International Law, Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility (February 26, 2010)
- “CSR and Human Rights,” Panelist, American Bar Association, Section of International Law Spring Meeting (April 3, 2008)
publications
- “CSR v. Corporate Philanthropy: A Lawyer's Perspective,” chapter in Linking Corporate Practices to Human Rights Abuses: The New Approach in Accountability, American Bar Association (upcoming 2012)
- “Board Oversight and Corporate Social Responsibility: Obligations and Considerations,” BNA Corporate Governance Report, Co-Author (with Gwendolyn Jaramillo, January 2012)
- “CSR and the Role of the Board,” IR Magazine (November 2011)
- “Corporate Social Responsibility and the Role of the Board,” Corporate Secretary (June 2011)
- “Corporate Social Responsibility, International Legal Developments in Review: 2010,” The International Lawyer, Lead Editor and Co-Author (with Amy Lehr and Andrew Orsmond, Spring 2011)
- “Making Corporate Social Responsibility Systemic,” Executive Counsel, Co-Author (with Gare Smith, February/March 2011)
- “Legal Speak: What Are the Risks When Executives Don't Understand CSR?” In Good Company, Vault.com (January 21, 2011)
- “Business and Human Rights in the United States,” chapter in Global Business and Human Rights, Lead Editor and Co-Author (European Lawyer Reference, 2011)
- “Corporate Social Responsibility - International Legal Developments in Review: 2009,” The International Lawyer, Lead Editor and Co-Author (with Amy Lehr and Suzanne Spears, 2010)
- “Corporate Accountability and Human Rights in the Age of Global Water Scarcity,” Natural Resources & Environment, Co-Author (with Edgar Chen, Winter 2010)
- “Distinctions With Differences: The Lawyer’s Role in Distinguishing CSR and Corporate Philanthropy,” International Law News (Winter 2010)
- “Corporate Social Responsibility - International Legal Developments in Review: 2008,” The International Lawyer, Lead Editor and Co-Author (with Amy Lehr, 2009)
- “Corporate Social Responsibility - International Legal Developments in Review: 2007,” The International Lawyer, Lead Editor and Co-Author (with Daniel Feldman and Lara Blecher, 2008)
- “Proactive Management of Legal Risk,” CSR Journal (March 2008)
- “The Bottom Line,” Democracy: A Journal of Ideas, Co-Author (with Daniel Feldman, Spring 2007)
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Rights and Challenges for Women: Human Rights in Bangladesh (published by Ain O Salish Kendra, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003)
- “Book Note - Karl Schoenberger, Levi’s Children: Coming to Terms With Human Rights in the Global Marketplace (2000),” Harvard Human Rights Journal (2001)