Corporations, ESG, and Society is Bigger than Corporate Law
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) is a topic that all corporate lawyers are familiar with, and now Monash Law is introducing it to a broader audience. ‘LAW5488 Corporations, ESG, and Society’, led by academic and lawyer, Dr Tim Bowley, recognises the broad influence that large corporations have in our society.
Enrol in ‘LAW5488 Corporations, ESG, and Society’ as a short course
“ Students who wouldn't see themselves as corporate lawyers or commercial lawyers will still encounter ESG issues. For example, NGOs and the Environmental Defender's Office have been involved in some high profile litigation around climate change against large corporations,” explained Dr Bowley.
“Organisations like these have realised that in order to effect the changes they're seeking to make in the world, they not only have to engage in the political realm, but they also need to directly change the behaviour of large corporations.”
This innovative unit runs in June 2025 and aims to equip Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Laws (LLM) students with a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between corporate law, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, and their broader societal impacts.
Tim Bowley brings real-world experience to ESG
Tim Bowley is no stranger to establishing new units at Monash Law. His other units include ’LAW5473 - International mergers and acquisitions’ and ‘LAW5472 - Regulating shareholder activism’.
“ The feedback that I get is that the courses are well structured. They're related to what the students might experience in practice, and actually when I say in practice, I mean, not just legal practice.”
“In these kinds of areas, students could end up outside of law firms, they could end up working for regulators, in public policy or major NGOs and still find they are dealing with corporations and the operation of the markets. And students also like the guest speakers,” confirmed Dr Bowley.
Tim Bowley brings a wealth of experience to ‘LAW5488 Corporations, ESG, and Society’, having transitioned from a successful career as a practising lawyer to academia. With nearly two decades of experience in top-tier law firms in Australia and the UK, Dr Bowley offers students a unique perspective that bridges practical legal expertise and academic rigour.
"I've only been an academic in this second stage of my career. Before that, I was a practising lawyer," said Dr Bowley.
"I started in Australia, worked in one of the big firms in London, and then came back to Australia, becoming a partner in a national firm called Johnson Winter Slattery."
Students can expect Dr Bowley to bring his own real-world experience to the classroom as well as that of guest speakers drawn from his professional network.
Tim Bowley at a conference on Corporate Law & Other Ideas at SMU Yong Pung How School of Law in 2024 with CLARS Director, Professor Jennifer Hill, where he presented his research on 'Superannuation Funds and the Future of Australian Corporate Governance'.
The innovative course structure of LAW5488
‘LAW5488 Corporations, ESG, and Society’ will be delivered in an intensive format over six days for Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Laws (LLM) students.
"This is going to be taught on an intensive basis over six days. Those classes are divided into a mix of traditional lecture, group work, discussion, case studies, and guest speakers," said Dr Bowley.
This dynamic approach ensures that students are not only engaged but also able to see the practical implications of the topics discussed. Dr Bowley emphasises the importance of guest speakers in bringing corporate law to life, providing students with insights from industry professionals and real-world scenarios.
Enrol in ‘LAW5488 Corporations, ESG, and Society’ as a short course
The relevance and importance of Corporations, ESG, and Society
The relevance of this unit cannot be overstated. As Dr Bowley explained, the concern of corporate law and regulation is no longer confined to addressing the private dealings of shareholders and directors.
"Our largest corporations play such a significant role in the real world and shape things such as our standard of living and the way our economy works," noted Dr Bowley.
“ You just have to think, in this country, we have two large retailers, two major airlines, a handful of energy companies, and when things go wrong, we really notice it. Recently we had an egg shortage - there's really only two major supermarkets you can go to, and they both had egg shortages! ”
Students enrolling in LAW5488 will explore critical issues such as the role of corporations in the energy transition, modern slavery in corporate supply chains, corporate responses to social and environmental challenges, and mechanisms for aligning corporate behaviour with pro-social objectives.
“ There's a significant concentration of power and there's been a real debate about the significant effects that large corporations can have on things like energy transition.”
These topics are not only academically stimulating but also highly relevant to various career paths, including corporate law, regulatory roles, public policy, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Why enrol in LAW5488?
Tim Bowley encourages students from diverse backgrounds and with a variety of career aspirations to consider this unit.
"This course will appeal to both those who envisage a career in corporate law and those who aim to make a difference through NGOs or international organisations," said Dr Bowley.
"This is going to be a real mix. It's not going to be pure theory or highly black-letter law. It's going to be about corporate law in the real world."
One of those real-world examples recently played out at the Woodside AGM with NGOs and big investors pursuing separate strategies for holding the energy giant to account for its slow transition to a low carbon future.
“ You saw it being pushed from several sides. The NGOs and climate activists were demanding more, the board and conservative commentators were saying, well, you know, Woodside’s doing as much as it can and any more would be foolish. And then you have the big investors who say, well, we have a lot of money in this company so we don’t want it to be pushed to a point where corporate value is compromised.”
Tim Bowley was quoted in relation to this matter in the ABC News story ‘Shareholder rejection of Woodside's climate plan sends message to company, but can it do anything more consequential?’
“If I was a law student right now, I’d be hoping that when I graduate and people say ‘what about the social licence of these big companies?’ - I'm going to be able to engage with that.”
A broader perspective on ESG
One of the key strengths of LAW5488 is its broad appeal. As Dr Bowley notes, the course is structured to attract students who may not have initially considered corporate law as their primary focus.
"This course is designed to bring the subject to students who have a broader perspective and a broader range of interests."
By addressing the societal impacts of corporate actions and the role of law in regulating these impacts, the unit provides a holistic view that is both intellectually stimulating and practically relevant.
“ This is for people who want to end up at corporate law firms, but also people who may want to go to the bar because a lot of this is flowing through in terms of litigation.”
“They may want to work for an NGO or an international organisation. The United Nations has adopted the strategy of driving change by bringing along the markets and economic institutions.”
Corporations, ESG, and Society is a unique opportunity
'LAW5488 Corporations, ESG, and Society' offers students a unique opportunity to delve into the critical issues at the intersection of corporate law and societal challenges.
“ The corporate sector, because it's more of a market creature, is more dynamic than something like constitutional law. The pressure points evolve more quickly and you have more varied responses because you're not just dealing with a national constitution. So, I find large public companies inherently interesting just because of that dynamic.”
With Tim Bowley's expert guidance and the course's innovative structure, students will be well-equipped to make meaningful contributions in their future careers.
“Corporate governance has clear, real world relevance, so students can learn about this and then they'll be seeing examples play out in real life. You have a real sense that you're learning about something that has a real immediacy.”
Enrol in 'LAW5488 Corporations, ESG, and Society' and prepare to engage with some of the most pressing issues facing the corporate world, and broader society, today.
Enrol in ‘LAW5488 Corporations, ESG, and Society’ as a short course