Trust Law Committee Workshop: 'Private Trustees and Ethical Investments'

To what extent should private trustees be able to take into account wider ethical or environmental, social and governance factors when making investment decisions? Unless the trust instrument expressly permits it, English law permits them to do so in very limited circumstances. Does this conservative approach still make sense in the 21st century? Is there room for the English courts to interpret the law more expansively or is legislative reform required? What lessons are to be learned from the development of caselaw in other jurisdictions, such as Jersey, and recent statutory reforms in jurisdictions such as Scotland and Bermuda?

These issues are set out in a discussion document, which will form the basis of a group discussion led by a panel of experts.

The panel is chaired by Sir Launcelot Henderson and includes Professor Sinéad Agnew (Cambridge), Dr Dan Carr (Edinburgh), Edward Cumming KC (XXIV Old Buildings) Robin Vos (MacFarlanes) and a judicial commentator (TBC).

The event will take place in-person at Moot Court, UCL Laws, Bentham House, Endsleigh Gardens, London, WC1H 0EG and hybrid attendance is also available.

For more information and to register please refer to the UCL website.

The Trust Law Committee is a law reform body composed of trust law practitioners and academics.