Sarah A. Altschuller

Associate - Washington, D.C.

Bio photo for Sarah Altschuller
Download Media Photo

Contact Information

Sarah Altschuller has been a member of Foley Hoag’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practice since 2003. In this role, she advises multinational companies regarding the development and implementation of CSR strategies, policies, and procedures, as well as compliance with emerging legal and regulatory requirements. Sarah provides counsel regarding engagements with socially responsible investors, government policymakers, local communities, non-governmental organizations, and other key stakeholders.  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.

More »

Education:

  • Harvard Law School, J.D., 2002
  • Williams College, B.A., magna cum laude, 1997

Representative Experience

  • Conducted an assessment of a technology company’s policies, processes, and procedures to protect freedom of expression and privacy rights and to implement the Principles of the Global Network Initiative (GNI), a multi-stakeholder group formed to protect and advance freedom of expression and privacy in the information and communications technology sector.
  • 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.
  • “An Attorney’s Perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Philanthropy” chapter in Corporate Accountability for Human Rights Impacts: New Paradigms and Expectations (American Bar Association, upcoming 2013)
  • “Human Rights Due Diligence: A New Trend in Federal and State Legislation,” California Business Law News (December 2012)
  • "Corporate Social Responsibility,” Corporate Legal Compliance Handbook (Wolters Kluwer Law and Business, 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)
  • “Trafficking in Supply Chains,” Inside Supply Management (October/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)
  • 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)

Honors

  • Fulbright Fellow, Bangladesh (2002-2003)

Involvement

  • Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center (Spring 2013)
  • Board Member, ECPAT-USA (2012-present)
  • Co-Chair of the Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility, Section of International Law, American Bar Association (2010-2012)
  • Massachusetts Bar Association
  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • Maryland Bar Association
  • “The Attorney’s Role in Mitigating Human Trafficking,” 2013 Hospitality Law Conference (February 14, 2013)
  • “Managing Human Rights Issues in Complex Environments,” Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability in Mining Conference (December 4, 2012)
  • “Compliance Planning: Analyzing Analogous Regimes,” Harvard Law School Project on Law and Security, Counterterrorism and Humanitarian Engagement Project Workshop (November 16, 2012)  
  • “Lessons From the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights and the ICoC,” Pan-Asia Regional Council Meeting, Overseas Security Advisory Council (October 12, 2012)
  • “Human Rights Due Diligence in Corporate Supply Chains: Best Practices and Emerging Trends,” NBCUniversal Corporate Supplier Social Responsibility Summit (October 9, 2012)
  • “Preparing for Compliance with the SEC’s Conflict Minerals Rule: Challenges Ahead!” West LegalEdCenter Webinar (October 2, 2012)
  • “Where is the Cloud? The Challenge of Geolocation in an Era of Cloud Computing,” Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics Webinar (August 16, 2012)
  • “The Role of Business in Eradicating Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery: A Transparency Approach,” U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Briefing (July 19, 2012)
  • “Managing the Nationwide Impact of The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act: Reducing Legal and Reputational Risks through Training, Verification, Audit, and Disclosure Mechanisms,” American Conference Institute’s National Forum on Import Compliance & Enforcement (June 20, 2012) 
  • “UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights: What Lawyers Should Know,” Northeastern University School of Law (June 6, 2012)
  • “Protecting User Privacy  - How Companies Should Respond to Government Requests,” Rio de Janeiro Human Rights & Technology Conference (May 31, 2012)
  • “Corporate Social Responsibility – Best Practices and Important Trends,” Association of General Counsel Spring Meeting (May 4, 2012)
  • “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)
Add to Bio Folder

Download Bio

Bar Admissions

  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • District of Columbia

Court Admissions

  • 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