Counsel
Lalive
Geneva
Everyone is talking about…
Many people feel quite fatalistic about the ESG backlash and the rollback of ESG legislation in certain jurisdictions. But I remain optimistic! ESG has always been contentious – yet the overall trend is up. Take business and human rights, for instance: 10 years ago, there was almost no hard law; 20 years ago, there was none. If you think about it, the pace is actually pretty fast. Sweatshops, climate change and child labour are not going to disappear overnight and neither is ESG.
We might need a shift in perspective. Even for the more reluctant parties, there is a self-interest to follow ESG goals: keeping the air breathable for your workers not to fall sick, keeping the beaches pristine for tourism, optimising energy efficiency and self-sufficiency, attracting new customers or capital, recruiting and retaining talent etc. We might also need a change in nomenclature, maybe even to depart from the ‘ESG’ acronym to privilege more neutral, business-focused terms such as the simple but efficient term ‘risk’. That’s just a change in lens. The content doesn’t truly change: old wine in a new bottle.
What’s next in ESG/sustainability law?
We are moving from soft law and reporting towards enforceability and liability. Voluntary commitments are giving way to hard law, with regulators and courts increasingly willing to hold companies accountable for ESG failures. Improper supply chain due diligence, climate regulations breaches, and greenwashing are no longer just PR issues – they are also litigation and operational risks with real financial consequences. Yet few are prepared for this future where NGOs, investors, consumers and even competitors use ESG failings as ammunition in the courtroom.
At the same time, technology will play a bigger role, from AI-driven/assisted supply chain monitoring and risk management to blockchain-based traceability.
The landscape is constantly changing. We need to adapt.
Why ESG/sustainability law?
Because it sits at the crossroads of law, ethics and business strategy. ESG is not just a legal challenge; it’s a societal one. Advising clients in this space means helping them navigate evolving regulatory frameworks while contributing to systemic change, all with the client’s operations and economic interests in mind. You are bridging human rights law with corporate governance. You face critical social questions, but you also have to stay pragmatic and remember that if you do not align the ESG goals with financial KPIs, it might be difficult to get the CFO on board.
Favourite restaurant or meal
Simple and local: in the summer, filets de perche from the Lac Léman with beurre meunière by the lake. In winter, a moitié-moitié fondue, ideally outdoors in front of a chalet. For me, good food is about quality ingredients and consistency – not excess. It is not so different from good governance.
Advice I’d give to my 25-year-old self
Your footnotes are too long. Your sentences too. Stay simple, focused. Also, invest early in building a network of peers who share your values. These relationships will become one of your greatest resources when navigating complex, cross-border challenges.
Reference
“Anton Vallélian is becoming a key voice in Switzerland on ESG and business and human rights, in particular. Always professional, he combines rigorous legal analysis with practical solutions, helping clients address risks and embed human rights into their operations. Extremely active in the Swiss ESG space through publications and industry engagement, he brings strong expertise, technical knowledge, and a forward-looking approach to every case. This all makes him a rising star in ESG law and an outstanding candidate for Forward 40.” Daniel Lucien Bühr, partner at Lalive
Dr Anton Vallelian is a counsel with Lalive, where he coordinates the ESG and public international law focus groups.
He has extensive expertise assisting some of Switzerland’s largest companies to navigate global and local sustainability regulations. This allows him to provide tailored guidance on governance, due diligence and reporting obligations, enabling clients to efficiently identify and mitigate risks within their operations.
He serves as coordinator of the Geneva Bar’s Human Rights Commission – Business and Human Rights’ Committee, co-chair of the Business and Human Rights Lawyers Association’s Training Committee and auditor of the Swiss Society of International Law. He is also an active member of the International Bar Association’s Business Human Rights Committee and the UN Global Compact Network Switzerland & Liechtenstein.
Anton is further specialised in cross-border disputes, with a focus on asset recovery, enforcement of foreign judgments and awards, and international mutual legal assistance. He also regularly advises states and international organisations in matters of public international law, including international responsibility, privileges and immunities and governance.
He holds a PhD in public international law and human rights from the University of Geneva and was awarded a Swiss National Science Foundation Fellowship to complete his research at Harvard Law School.
E: avallelian@lalive.law
T: +41 58 105 2000