I don't just work in ESG and sustainability—I redefine how companies engage these topics. I take the complexities of ESG and sustainability, distill them into actionable insights, and help businesses unlock new opportunities through strategic thinking and impactful storytelling. My approach? I ask the hard questions, clarify the uncertain, and deliver solutions that drive growth and resilience.

My passion comes from the books I've read over the years. Growing up, I was fascinated to see how stories were constructed and would try to connect the dots before the ending. Businesses tell stories every day, and the risks and opportunities among the dots to keep their story going now fascinate me.

With over 20 years of experience in technology and disruption, I’ve become known for pioneering strategies that move companies forward. Whether it's translating ESG data into business value or helping senior stakeholders see around the corner, my goal is to position businesses for long-term success in a rapidly evolving landscape.

As an ESG advocate, I’m engaged in key conversations that matter:
· Spoke at the UN GCIC Climate Innovation Summit, was interviewed and quoted on podcasts, in articles, and at events, and was recognized as Who's Who in ESG 2023 by Onalytica.
· Serves on the LP Advisory Committee for Morgan Stanley’s Next Level Fund, providing input on the portfolio, including from the technology and ESG perspectives.
· Partners with Enzo Advisors as a Senior Advisor, helping small and mid-market cap companies understand ESG and sustainability to drive resilience.

Beyond work, I write the ESG Advocate newsletter and authored ESG Mindset, an award-winning book that empowers companies to navigate ESG and leverage it for sustainable growth. Upon release, the book was recognized as the #1 New Release for Sustainable Business Development and a Best Seller for Green Business.

If you're looking to deepen your company’s approach to ESG, align it with your business strategy, and build a resilient organization, let's connect!

Dominique is a strategic in-house legal leader, with nearly 20 years of compliance and legal experience with Fortune 50 companies, AM100 law firms and the government. With a comprehensive background in commercial and corporate law and a deep understanding of sustainability and climate, she specializes in providing practical legal advice to Chief Sustainability Officers and sustainability and social impact teams, aiming to manage risk while driving towards more sustainable outcomes. She is skilled in navigating complex regulatory and legal landscapes and known for "out of the box" strategies. She is committed to driving positive social and environmental impact and to creating more resilient communities.

Some of her career highlights include:

✷ Became Nike’s first holistic ESG Counsel; built Nike’s legal ESG program.
✷ Led the Federal Trade Commission's Los Angeles office, securing $100M+ settlements with AT&T and DeVry University.
✷ Provided strategic legal advice Nike's Chief Sustainability Officer, Global Sustainability Leadership Team, and Sustainable Data and Analytics.
✷ Established Nike’s global compliance strategy on emerging and active ESG laws and regulations (German DD, California Climate Bills, EUDR, CS3D).
✷ Developed Nike’s strategy on mandatory reporting and disclosures and led cross-functional team on double materiality assessment.
✷ Counseled industry trade consortium and its board on corporate governance, strategic partnerships, intellectual property and antitrust compliance.
✷ Successfully defended a major tech company in a 2+ year investigation into the company’s general business practices.
✷ Successfully led a joint legal-business strategy to defeat a telecommunications regulation that impeded company growth into local markets.

As a dynamic and visionary leader, she excels in guiding teams to achieve their full potential and surpass organizational goals. With a blend of strategic foresight, emotional intelligence, and motivational prowess, she fosters an environment of collaboration, innovation, and excellence. Her track record of success lies in empowering individuals, cultivating strong team dynamics, and driving sustainable results through effective communication, mentorship, and strategic decision-making.

Marisa Blackshire is currently Vice President, Environment and Regulatory Law at Bloom Energy.  Some of the largest companies in the world trust Bloom to provide their businesses with clean, reliable, and resilient energy.  In her role, Marisa works on legal and policy matters that enable Bloom’s cutting-edge technology and our clean energy future, while also leading Bloom’s global Environmental, Health and Safety team.  

Prior to joining Bloom, Marisa was a Senior General Attorney at BNSF Railway.  In that role, Marisa led BNSF’s environmental legal, air and climate programs system wide. She also worked on various environmental permitting, sustainability, regulatory compliance and litigation matters that arose across the BNSF system, which includes 28 states and 3 Canadian provinces. Before BNSF, Marisa was in private practice at Alston & Bird LLP where she worked on similar issues for clients including, but not limited to: petroleum companies; mines; energy providers; residential developers; the world’s largest retailer; and local agencies developing large scale infrastructure. 

Marisa serves on the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) Board and is active in the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, currently serving on the Executive Committee as the Section’s Vice Chair.  Marisa’s community involvement includes supporting multiple causes that provide high quality programming and resources to at-risk youth. 

Marisa received her B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her J.D. from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles.

Daniel Schönfelder serves as RCP's European Legal Advisor. Within RCP, his primary focus is on drafting and disseminating clauses tailored to the German and European contexts. He collaborates with stakeholders from various sectors, including business, NGOs, academia, and consultancies, to promote responsible contracting. Daniel coordinates the German Team for the project developing European Model Contract Clauses, playing a pivotal role in cultivating and sustaining relationships with key stakeholders such as academia, businesses, NGOs, consultancies, and the broader business and human rights community.

Daniel, a German lawyer and lecturer in Business and Human Rights (BHR), is actively involved in implementing the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act at an international logistics firm. His past experience includes contributing to the creation of the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, where he provided guidance to key stakeholders and decision-makers. Additionally, he advised businesses across various sectors on the act's implementation. Daniel is a frequent speaker at training sessions and lectures on BHR, the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, and the CSDDD. He is also a regular contributor to journals and books on BHR issues, and he co-authored the first handbook on the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.

Daniel graduated from the University of Konstanz, Germany, with a degree in Law (two state exams, both with honors). He also holds an LL.M. from Universidad Santo Tomás, Colombia."

Patrick Miller is an international lawyer concentrating on cross-border commercial issues, with an emphasis on arbitration, mediation and litigation. He concentrates on working with Social Impact companies that incorporate a social mission into their business models, particularly smaller, more entrepreneurial companies.

He has worked in the US, Europe and Asia — spending nearly a decade in South-East Asia focusing on commercial disputes with a large international law firm.

He is a strong advocate for social businesses and passionate about assisting these companies when they encounter commercial disputes. He has also advised several social impact startups doing business internationally, providing advice on both legal and business issues.

He is involved in the business & human rights legal community primarily through his work with the ABA Business Law Section Working Group that has a developed a comprehensive set of contractual provisions to address potential human rights violations in international supply chains. He can advise companies on establishing responsible supply chain frameworks in compliance with emerging regulatory challenges.

He’s also active in the Environmental, Social and Governance space, particularly through his work hosting a YouTube show called ESG-in-Law for the California Lawyers Association ESG Committee where he interviews professionals who work on issues involving the convergence of ESG and law.

Given his experience abroad, his involvement in the social business movement and his commercial background, he is able to provide strategic guidance that addresses his clients’ legal and business objectives—while also focusing on their responsible business commitments.

Doing whatever is needed to help Mill solve the food waste problem. I work primarily on corporate, commercial transaction, product, and employment matters.

Navine Karim is an attorney and international development executive with over 25 years of experience leading cross-cultural teams and strategically advising C-Suites and boards on complex legal, business and regulatory topics in dynamically evolving industries including consumer products, media, technology and sustainability.

Navine has worked in senior executive roles as General Counsel, Head of Impact and Corporate Secretary for Guayaki Yerba Mate, S.P.C.; Vice-President and Head of Business & Legal Affairs at Red Bull and Vice-President of Business & Legal Affairs at BET Networks/Paramount. Navine also spent several years with the International Law Institute in Kampala, Uganda where he advised national and multilateral organizations and oversaw projects related to promoting the rule of law and governance in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Presently, Navine is the Founder and CEO of Global Impact Law, P.C., a professional services firm that provides fractional general counsel, legal support as well as strategic and compliance services for companies navigating the increasingly complex legal/regulatory and commercial frameworks shaping the future of sustainable business. Navine is also an Advisory Board Member at Impakt IQ, an investor-grade sustainability analytics platform, and a Board Member of 32° East, a non-profit organization that raises awareness about arts and culture in Uganda.

Navine earned his J.D. and M.A. in International Development from the American University in Washington, D.C. and a B.S. Degree in Business Administration with a focus in Finance and Economics at the University of Florida. Navine is licensed to practice law in California, New York and the District of Columbia; a member of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers, Tech GC, CSO Forum for Naturals, and a pro bono legal advisor to the Aga Khan Shia Ismaili Muslim Council in the US.

James Pollack is an attorney at Marten Law, an environmental law firm based in Seattle, WA. James leads Marten’s consumer products regulatory practice where he helps trusted national brands bring sustainable products to market. He counsels apparel, footwear, outdoor gear, and furniture manufacturers on the complicated regulatory and litigation environments surrounding material inputs, emerging contaminants, green marketing claims, product end of life, packaging, and climate impacts. James is a thought leader on per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS or “forever chemicals”) through his publication of the PFAS Deskbook (Environmental Law Institute Press, 2023) and hosting the Monthly PFAS Briefing with the Environmental Law Institute. He also works with industry associations to update membership on regulatory developments. For his work, James was recognized as a 2024 recipient of the ABA’s On The Rise award for the Top 40 Young Lawyers.

Patrick Miller is an international lawyer concentrating on cross-border commercial issues, with an emphasis on arbitration, mediation and litigation. He concentrates on working with Social Impact companies that incorporate a social mission into their business models, particularly smaller, more entrepreneurial companies.

He has worked in the US, Europe and Asia — spending nearly a decade in South-East Asia focusing on commercial disputes with a large international law firm.

He is a strong advocate for social businesses and passionate about assisting these companies when they encounter commercial disputes. He has also advised several social impact startups doing business internationally, providing advice on both legal and business issues.

He is involved in the business & human rights legal community primarily through his work with the ABA Business Law Section Working Group that has a developed a comprehensive set of contractual provisions to address potential human rights violations in international supply chains. He can advise companies on establishing responsible supply chain frameworks in compliance with emerging regulatory challenges.

He’s also active in the Environmental, Social and Governance space, particularly through his work hosting a YouTube show called ESG-in-Law for the California Lawyers Association ESG Committee where he interviews professionals who work on issues involving the convergence of ESG and law.

Given his experience abroad, his involvement in the social business movement and his commercial background, he is able to provide strategic guidance that addresses his clients’ legal and business objectives—while also focusing on their responsible business commitments.

Ryan is currently Lead ESG and Corporate Compliance Counsel for Ralph Lauren. He practices at the intersection of law and compliance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues. Ryan is responsible for overseeing global ESG compliance at Ralph Lauren, including corporate sustainability and human rights disclosures and improving the traceability and transparency of its supply chain, in response to global regulatory requirements. Prior to Ralph Lauren, Ryan was an in-house counsel for Everest Group, Ltd., a global insurance and reinsurance company, where he was responsible for their ESG reporting and integrating ESG considerations into their investment and underwriting strategies. Before graduating from Rutgers Law School, Ryan spent five years working in the climate change and sustainable development fields at the United Nations following his completion of a Master's degree in climate science and policy at Columbia University. He is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey.

Passionate sustainability practitioner helping institutions build a better future in a rapidly changing and unpredictable world. Experienced attorney and thought leader in technology policy and human rights. Proven track record of developing policy and legislation on issues such as antitrust, privacy, and free expression. Widely published author and board member who has launched successful brand and advocacy campaigns across the globe.

Patrick Miller is an international lawyer concentrating on cross-border commercial issues, with an emphasis on arbitration, mediation and litigation. He concentrates on working with Social Impact companies that incorporate a social mission into their business models, particularly smaller, more entrepreneurial companies.

He has worked in the US, Europe and Asia — spending nearly a decade in South-East Asia focusing on commercial disputes with a large international law firm.

He is a strong advocate for social businesses and passionate about assisting these companies when they encounter commercial disputes. He has also advised several social impact startups doing business internationally, providing advice on both legal and business issues.

He is involved in the business & human rights legal community primarily through his work with the ABA Business Law Section Working Group that has a developed a comprehensive set of contractual provisions to address potential human rights violations in international supply chains. He can advise companies on establishing responsible supply chain frameworks in compliance with emerging regulatory challenges.

He’s also active in the Environmental, Social and Governance space, particularly through his work hosting a YouTube show called ESG-in-Law for the California Lawyers Association ESG Committee where he interviews professionals who work on issues involving the convergence of ESG and law.

Given his experience abroad, his involvement in the social business movement and his commercial background, he is able to provide strategic guidance that addresses his clients’ legal and business objectives—while also focusing on their responsible business commitments.

Layla El-Wafi is a senior in-house lawyer with an international bank based in Dubai. Since 2014  she has advised on a range of finance transactions, regulatory and commercial matters mainly in the UAE and other Middle East North Africa countries as well as cross border with Europe, US, Asia and Africa on sustainable finance and ESG matters. Her clients apart from various banking teams  includes Climate Risk, Responsible AI and Data Ethics, Procurement and Environmental & Social Risk Management.  

Layla is an English qualified lawyer and prior to the bank trained and qualified with a London based law firm.  Prior to her legal career, Layla worked with a few international development and human rights NGOs in London and MENA region.  She is a board member of the Association of Corporate Counsels MENA Chapter and has a personal passion in sustainability and ESG where she has published a few papers over the last years- see links below.  Layla's participation in the  event is in her personal capacity and as a member of the ACC MENA in the spirit of learning and collaborating with other legal and compliance professionals to promote responsible business.

Kristina joins Persefoni from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where she served as Senior Counsel for Climate and ESG to the Director of the Division of Corporation Finance. While at the SEC, Kristina oversaw the assessment of climate-related disclosures and helped to lead the rulemaking team through drafting proposed climate disclosure rules. She also worked closely with the Commission's Office of International Affairs, engaging with regulators and standards-setters in jurisdictions around the world. She also supported the U.S. Department of Treasury and other Federal agencies on a variety of matters, including a report in response to an Executive Order that addressed the impact of climate change on the nation's financial stability.

Kristina's first-hand experience in assessing and shaping the climate reporting landscape, combined with her deep expertise in ESG policy and regulation, will be indispensable in supporting customers to identify climate-related risks and opportunities while maintaining confidence in their compliance with rapidly evolving regulation.

Prior to the SEC, Kristina served as Senior Counsel and Director of Sustainability at Latham & Watkins, where she established and led the firm's internal sustainability program and co-chaired the firm's ESG taskforce in the commercial practice. There, she experienced first-hand the challenge of calculating Latham's own emissions and establishing reduction goals, and saw clients struggle to understand and manage their greenhouse gas (GHG) footprints – the exact obstacles Persefoni solves.

Kristina holds a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Colorado, and an MBA in sustainability from Yale University.

Karyn Polak founded Shift the Prism Advisory to support changes in mindsets, systems, and approaches to capital and development. Throughout her career, Karyn has consistently sought to reduce inequities and increase inclusion through concrete contributions as a business executive, board member, mentor, and community convener and connector.
 
She previously served as a senior counsel, trusted advisor, and C-suite executive in her various roles at Citigroup, PNC Bank, and Transamerica — from her first senior position as General Counsel for Citi Private Bank to her most recent as Chief Legal Officer for Transamerica. She also has over a decade of experience advising global financial institutions, multinational corporations, and family businesses in corporate finance, securities, and mergers and acquisitions at three top-100 U.S. law firms.
 
Karyn's prior roles as a senior executive and legal counsel across the spectrum of traditional finance -- from consumer banking, to brokerage and wealth management, investment banking and institutional asset management, and insurance and retirement -- highlighted the gaps in capital tools and access that she works today to close.  She consults on a portfolio of projects that stretch mindsets and opportunities from philanthropy to the public markets, driving innovation in place-based, local investments and for individuals, businesses, and communities without existing wealth on which to build.

Patrick Miller is an international lawyer concentrating on cross-border commercial issues, with an emphasis on arbitration, mediation and litigation. He concentrates on working with Social Impact companies that incorporate a social mission into their business models, particularly smaller, more entrepreneurial companies.

He has worked in the US, Europe and Asia — spending nearly a decade in South-East Asia focusing on commercial disputes with a large international law firm.

He is a strong advocate for social businesses and passionate about assisting these companies when they encounter commercial disputes. He has also advised several social impact startups doing business internationally, providing advice on both legal and business issues.

He is involved in the business & human rights legal community primarily through his work with the ABA Business Law Section Working Group that has a developed a comprehensive set of contractual provisions to address potential human rights violations in international supply chains. He can advise companies on establishing responsible supply chain frameworks in compliance with emerging regulatory challenges.

He’s also active in the Environmental, Social and Governance space, particularly through his work hosting a YouTube show called ESG-in-Law for the California Lawyers Association ESG Committee where he interviews professionals who work on issues involving the convergence of ESG and law.

Given his experience abroad, his involvement in the social business movement and his commercial background, he is able to provide strategic guidance that addresses his clients’ legal and business objectives—while also focusing on their responsible business commitments.

Lizzie Lange is a partner in the Corporate & Securities Practice Group at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. Experienced in complex transactions, Lizzie works with public and private companies, private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies and other clients in a variety of industries and focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, corporate restructurings, private securities offerings, divestitures and general corporate matters. Lizzie also leads the firm’s full-service ESG practice and regularly advises clients on ESG, B Corp and social impact matters

Patrick Miller is an international lawyer concentrating on cross-border commercial issues, with an emphasis on arbitration, mediation and litigation. He concentrates on working with Social Impact companies that incorporate a social mission into their business models, particularly smaller, more entrepreneurial companies.

He has worked in the US, Europe and Asia — spending nearly a decade in South-East Asia focusing on commercial disputes with a large international law firm.

He is a strong advocate for social businesses and passionate about assisting these companies when they encounter commercial disputes. He has also advised several social impact startups doing business internationally, providing advice on both legal and business issues.

He is involved in the business & human rights legal community primarily through his work with the ABA Business Law Section Working Group that has a developed a comprehensive set of contractual provisions to address potential human rights violations in international supply chains. He can advise companies on establishing responsible supply chain frameworks in compliance with emerging regulatory challenges.

He’s also active in the Environmental, Social and Governance space, particularly through his work hosting a YouTube show called ESG-in-Law for the California Lawyers Association ESG Committee where he interviews professionals who work on issues involving the convergence of ESG and law.

Given his experience abroad, his involvement in the social business movement and his commercial background, he is able to provide strategic guidance that addresses his clients’ legal and business objectives—while also focusing on their responsible business commitments.