Jon Solorzano
Two California Plaza
350 South Grand Avenue
Suite 2100
Los Angeles, California 90071
The Grace Building
1114 Avenue of the Americas
32nd Floor
New York, New York 10036
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 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.
Experience Highlights
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)
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
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
Credentials
- Columbia University School of Law, J.D., 2008 (Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar; Parker School of Foreign and Comparative Law; Articles Editor, Columbia Journal of Law and the Arts)
- University of California at Santa Barbara, B.A., Political Science and International Relations with honors, 2004
- Member: Board of Directors for Oak Grove School, an independent PreK-12 School in Ojai, California
- California
- New York
- Spanish (conversational)
- Event RecapNovember 21, 2024
- InsightNovember 19, 2024
V&E SEC Update
- InsightNovember 14, 2024
V&E SEC Update | Published by Law360, November 19, 2024
- InsightNovember 8, 2024
V&E CTA Update
- InsightNovember 7, 2024
V&E Climate Change Update
- InsightOctober 17, 2024
V&E Securities & ESG Update
- InsightSeptember 24, 2024
V&E ESG Update
- InsightSeptember 13, 2024
- InsightJune 27, 2024
V&E ESG Update
- InsightJune 21, 2024
V&E ESG Update
- InsightMay 8, 2024
Published in Oilman Magazine
- InsightApril 24, 2024
Published by Regulatory Ramblings
- InsightMarch 28, 2024
- Event RecapMarch 19, 2024
- InsightMarch 15, 2024
V&E SEC Update | Originally Published March 7, 2024
- InsightMarch 14, 2024
V&E ESG Update
- InsightMarch 12, 2024
V&E CTA Update
- InsightFebruary 2, 2024
V&E SEC Update | Originally Published January 22, 2024
- InsightFebruary 1, 2024
V&E SEC Update
- InsightJanuary 30, 2024
V&E CTA Update
- InsightJanuary 11, 2024
V&E CTA Update
- Event RecapJanuary 8, 2024
- InsightJanuary 5, 2024
- InsightJanuary 3, 2024
Published by Westlaw Today
- InsightDecember 8, 2023
V&E Environmental Update | Originally Published November 14, 2023
- InsightNovember 22, 2023
V&E SEC Update
- Event RecapNovember 16, 2023
- InsightNovember 7, 2023
V&E ESG Update
- Event RecapOctober 31, 2023
- InsightOctober 16, 2023
V&E SEC Update
- InsightOctober 12, 2023
- InsightOctober 11, 2023
V&E Environmental Update | Originally Published September 27, 2023
- InsightSeptember 27, 2023
- Press ReleaseSeptember 27, 2023
- InsightSeptember 25, 2023
V&E SEC Update
- InsightSeptember 11, 2023
V&E Environmental and Government Contracts Update
- InsightJuly 26, 2023
V&E Cybersecurity Update
- InsightJuly 18, 2023
- InsightJuly 12, 2023
V&E Securities & ESG Update
- InsightJuly 5, 2023
- InsightJune 27, 2023
Published by Insightia
- Event RecapJune 14, 2023
- InsightJune 12, 2023
- Event RecapJune 8, 2023
- InsightJune 6, 2023
Published by CorpGov
- InsightMay 26, 2023
- InsightMay 16, 2023
- InsightApril 3, 2023
V&E Securities & ESG Update
- InsightApril 3, 2023
Published by IFLR, March 21, 2023
- InsightMarch 24, 2023
Published by Westlaw Today, Thomson Reuters, March 20, 2023
- Press ReleaseJanuary 9, 2023
- “Greenwashing and the Energy Transition: Principles for Mitigating Risk,” CorpGov, June 6, 2023
- “General Counsels on the Front Line: Balancing ESG and Economic Priorities,” Thomson Reuters Westlaw, March 20, 2023 (co-author)
- Jon frequently speaks at industry events and conferences about corporate governance and ESG topics.