Partner
Governance and Sustainability
“I really enjoy helping my clients develop and implement practical and strategic solutions that anticipate and address the ever-evolving needs of their shareholders and other critical stakeholders.”
Jon’s practice focuses on advising public and private companies and their boards of directors and executive teams on risks and opportunities related to environmental, social and governance (ESG), corporate governance, sustainability considerations, shareholder activism, risk management, securities law and M&A. Jon regularly advises public companies on preparing for and addressing shareholder proposals, managing shareholder activism and special corporate governance situations, engaging with shareholders, and effectively structuring governance and disclosures practices to be compliant with legal requirements and meet stakeholder expectations. Jon also advises public company boards on artificial intelligence (AI) governance, including structuring board-level AI oversight frameworks, navigating the evolving landscape of domestic and international AI regulations, and meeting shareholder and stakeholder expectations with respect to responsible AI deployment and risk management. Drawing on his deep corporate governance experience, Jon works with boards to develop practical AI governance policies and oversight structures that align with their fiduciary duties and broader corporate strategy. Jon also regularly advises clients on transactional matters, including performing due diligence and structuring investments and acquisitions, as well as advising on risks and opportunities related to the energy transition, including advising strategic investors, private equity sponsors and public companies on decarbonization goals and disclosures, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) strategies and claims and greenwashing risks. As Senior Director, Legal and Corporate Development for The Clorox Company from 2015 through 2022, he helped build and manage a comprehensive ESG program and helped lead the company’s ESG strategy, stakeholder engagement and ESG reporting. He also helped establish and execute strategies around climate change, plastics and waste, supply chain transparency and diversity and inclusion.
Jon plays a strategic role in advising clients on a broad range of ESG issues and related risks, including the development of sustainability reporting, board composition and effectiveness, corporate ESG programs and governance oversight and the establishment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions targets, compliance with and preparation for state and global ESG and anti-ESG regulations, development and disclosure of plastics and waste goals, and diversity and inclusion priorities. Jon frequently speaks at legal and ESG conferences and authors articles on corporate governance and ESG topics.
Jon’s valuable in-house background brings a unique and pragmatic perspective to clients assessing and incorporating ESG practices into their corporate strategies.
He serves as Co-Head of V&E’s ESG Taskforce.
Has advised multiple public companies in the energy sector on engagement and settlements with shareholder proponents on climate-related matters and setting of GHG emissions reductions targets
Has advised multiple public companies on board composition and effectiveness, shareholder engagement and ESG related disclosures including Sustainability Reports, SEC filings, Sustainability Accounting Board (SASB) reporting, reporting in accordance with the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), reporting to CDP, and management and prioritization of leading ESG ratings platforms
Has advised multiple companies on ESG regulations, including California climate disclosures, SEC climate disclosure rules and European Union regulations, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
Advises the boards of directors of public and private companies on AI governance matters, including structuring board-level and committee-level AI oversight frameworks, allocating AI oversight responsibilities across board committees, navigating US state, federal and international regulatory frameworks, development of AI policies, and addressing investor and stakeholder expectations regarding responsible AI deployment
From 2015 through 2022, was in house counsel at The Clorox Company, a major multinational Consumer Packaged Goods company, where he served as Assistant Corporate Secretary
At Clorox, Jon led engagement program with leading institutional investors and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on ESG and corporate governance matters, including frequent engagements related to climate change, plastics and waste, high-risk supply chains, inclusion and diversity, board of directors skills, capabilities and refreshment, executive compensation and other matters
Frequently assists clients in the development of policies and practices to enhance strategic ESG goals and mitigate risks with stakeholders, including but not limited to, greenwashing considerations, developing and disclosing climate action plans, codes of conduct, corporate governance charters and policies, diversity & inclusion policies, deforestation, biodiversity and other environmental and social policies
Global bank and multiple public and private companies on acquisition of emissions reductions attributes and environmental claims pertaining to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Fortune 500 Company in its development, organization and implementation of ESG strategies and corporate reporting
Secured wind and solar Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) in furtherance of corporate greenhouse gas emissions goals
Regularly advises clients in connection with ESG crisis management, corporate communications related to activist NGO campaigns, class-action litigation, political expenditures and trade association affiliations and other corporate reputational risk matters
Due diligence related to ESG considerations in connection with M&A and other strategic combinations
Advice relating to proxy advisor and institutional investor voting recommendations and strategic prioritization of ESG ratings platforms to maximize access to investor capital and to mitigate proxy voting concerns
Major consumer facing company in its development of principles for the corporation to speak out or engage with its various stakeholders on politically charged or divisive social and environmental issues
Various 14a-8 shareholder proposals regarding corporate governance matters, inclusion and diversity and sustainability topics
Advised clients on organizational enhancements to ensure climate change risk considerations managed by executive enterprise risk management committee with appropriate board of directors oversight
Advises public company boards on the structure and implementation of AI governance frameworks, including board- and committee-level oversight of AI strategy, risk, and compliance and assists boards with fiduciary duties implicated by evolving corporate AI adoption and board-level AI oversight responsibilities
Regularly advises clients on fiduciary duties, Regulation Fair Disclosure considerations, and establishment of data reporting and controls for ESG matters
Lead attorney on various acquisitions of well-known consumer brands for multinational consumer products company
Development and implementation of corporate venture program to make strategic minority investments and structure partnerships in connection with company’s sustainability goals
Led negotiation of complex Joint Venture arrangements in Middle East for manufacturer of consumer facing branded products
Hostile “deal-jump” transaction and tender offer to break up previously announced Merger of Equals transaction
Regularly provides counsel to public companies, private companies, and private equity firms in buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions
Early-stage companies in equity and debt financings and strategic M&A exits
Education
Admissions
CLE Events
Sixth Annual Navigating the Annual Meeting and Reporting Season
Join leading practitioners and industry voices for a timely discussion of the legal, regulatory, and governance developments shaping the next proxy season.
November 11, 2026
November 11, 2026 • 1-minute read
Client Alerts
SEC Moves to Rescind Rule 14a-8, Amend Rule 14a-4, and Modernize Various Proxy Solicitation Rules
The SEC announced proposals that, if adopted, would shift regulation of shareholder proposals from the SEC, which has long held …
September 17, 2026
September 17, 2026 • 10-minute read
Articles
5 Strategies for Addressing Climate Variability and Extreme Weather
Weather has always been an important operating consideration for the travel, leisure, and hospitality sectors. Recent periods of extreme heat, …
September 15, 2026
September 15, 2026 • 13-minute read
Client Alerts
Governance & Sustainability Roundup – September 9, 2026
Welcome to our Governance & Sustainability Roundup — Our regular briefing that gives a quick overview of what has recently …
September 9, 2026
September 9, 2026 • 9-minute read
Client Alerts
The SEC Steps Out of Rule 14a-8
On August 14, 2026, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance (the “Division”) issued a statement announcing that it will remove …
August 14, 2026
August 14, 2026 • 3-minute read
Media Coverage
Jon Solorzano Discusses SEC’s New No-Action Policy in FT Agenda
In two FT Agenda articles, Partner Jon Solorzano discussed the SEC’s decision to withdraw from the no-action process for shareholder …
August 31, 2026
August 31, 2026 • 1-minute read
Media Coverage
Jon Solorzano Quoted in FT Agenda on How Boards ‘Thread the Needle’ Amid Trump Executive Orders
In FT Agenda, Partner Jon Solorzano discussed how corporate boards are navigating the wave of executive orders issued during President …
March 4, 2026
March 4, 2026 • 1-minute read
Media Coverage
Jon Solorzano Breaks Down Regulatory Shifts on The Deal’s Activist Investing Today Podcast
Activist Investing Today Podcast hosted a discussion with partner Jon Solorzano, who explored the implications of a recent White House executive …
December 29, 2025
December 29, 2025 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins Advises Kinetik Holdings Inc. on $250 Million Senior Notes Offering
Vinson & Elkins advised Kinetik Holdings Inc. in connection with a tack-on offering of $250 million of additional 6.625% senior notes due 2028 by its subsidiary Kinetik Holdings LP.
March 18, 2025
March 18, 2025 • 1-minute read
Firm News
The latest report from Vinson & Elkins, The Evolving Role of ESG in M&A: Balancing Risks and Opportunities, addresses how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations should be incorporated into every merger & acquisition transaction.
September 27, 2023
September 27, 2023 • 2-minute read
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