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CCCA_V6No4_WhatToWatch-FIN_CCCA 11/27/12 12:38 PM Page 36 Feature counter to that corporate immorality, suggests Robin Sidsworth, in-house counsel at Teck Resources in Vancouver. In the same way that toddlers (we hope) learn to share, stop hitting, and clean up after themselves without a parent figure looming large, CSR initiatives are designed so that companies will take voluntary responsibility for adher- ing to ethical, social, environmental, human rights and other pro-social standards. Generally, CSR initiatives take the form of voluntary codes of conduct sub- scribed to by business either internally, through business associations (like the CBA), or third parties like NGOs or the UN. Their voluntary nature, says Sidsworth, has rendered them inherently distinct from legal requirements, and therefore typically beyond the purview of lawyers. But that’s changing. As CSR becomes increasingly commonplace for businesses, voluntary standards are working their way into laws and policies, creating legal impli- cations. He cites the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law in 2010, as an example. Its significant changes to financial reg- ulation in the U.S. include stringent supply-chain reporting requirements for com- panies: for example, where do technology companies obtain the metals and miner- als used in the devices they make? Have they been mined in conflict zones? Have they been sourced ethically? “Fifteen years ago,” says Sidsworth, “a company would say ‘I just buy them: it’s somebody else’s job to make sure that they’re mined correctly.’ Now, the view is that businesses need to understand and manage those issues. “ CORPORATE social Legal counsel must be aware of the voluntary codes their companies sign up for, he adds, “because although they are normally not legally binding, they become responsibility very much morally binding in terms of business practice. If you sign up for a code like that, it becomes awfully challenging to do anything outside that code.” And in-house counsel need to track new standards in their industry: “Which of In his 2004 book The Corporation, UBC law professor the sound business practices that you currently carry out eventually become a legal and legal theorist Joel Bakan characterized his subject requirement? How do outside stakeholder expectations impact your business? as a narcissistic and utterly self-motivated entity — How do you determine the legitimacy and reasonableness of these expectations?” essentially a giant toddler running amok, unchecked At this point, he notes, these questions are mostly academic, but they are by parental (read: governmental) regulation. increasingly relevant as that corporate toddler grows up — or at least emerges Corporate social responsibility (CSR) runs into a full-fledged grade-schooler. À surveiller Quels récents développements sont susceptibles d’affecter vos clients ou votre entreprise? Voici ce que vous devez savoir sur six changements imminents. Loi antipourriel leurs communications électroniques res- tantes de votre carnet d’adresses », prévient Si vous avez déjà reçu un courriel non sol- teront légales. James Bond, associé chez McMillan. licité vous offrant une vaste part d’héritage Quand les nouvelles règles entreront en en échange de vos renseignements ban- vigueur, les organisations ne pourront plus Le code type de caires, vous applaudirez le projet de loi envoyer de messages électroniques com- déontologie professionnelle C-28. L’initiative antipourriel qui devrait merciaux (MEC), à moins d’entrer dans En décembre 2011, la Fédération des ordres entrer en vigueur dans les premiers mois de l’une des catégories d’exemption restreintes professionnels de juristes du Canada a pub- 2013 pourrait cependant avoir des con- (par exemple : ces messages sont destinés à lié son Code type de déontologie profes- séquences imprévues, susceptibles d’affecter des clients actuels), ou d’en avoir obtenu le sionnelle, avec pour objectif d’harmoniser les activités d’entreprises légitimes. C’est consentement préalable du destinataire. les standards réglementaires à travers le pays. pourquoi les juristes-conseils doivent agir « À moins de vous y être préparés, vous Selon Anna Fung, vice-présidente des de manière proactive pour s’assurer que courez le risque de perdre des parts impor- affaires juridiques de TimberWest Forest 36 CCCA Canadian Corporate Counsel Association WINTER 2012