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Jon Solorzano
Jon Solorzano
Counsel — Environmental, Social & Governance
E: jsolorzano@velaw.com T: +1.213.527.6427
VCard BIO PDF
Counsel — Environmental, Social & Governance

Jon Solorzano

Jon Solorzano
Los Angeles
T: +1.213.527.6427
F: +1.213.402.2015

Two California Plaza
350 South Grand Avenue
Suite 2100
Los Angeles, California 90071

New York
T: +1.212.237.0019

The Grace Building
1114 Avenue of the Americas
32nd Floor
New York, New York 10036

E: jsolorzano@velaw.com
VCard BIO PDF
start quote symbolI 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 stakeholdersend quote symbol
Jon Solorzano

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)

News & Insights

Insight
California Air Resources Board Invites Comments on Climate Disclosure Laws

V&E Climate Change Update

Energy TransitionEnvironmental
December 18, 2024
Insight
Fifth Circuit Strikes Down Nasdaq Board Diversity Rules

V&E SEC Update

Energy Transition
December 13, 2024
Insight
California Provides Enforcement Relief on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Law

V&E ESG Update

Energy TransitionEnvironmental
December 11, 2024
Insight
FinCEN’s Response to Nationwide Preliminary Injunction Against Enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act

V&E CTA Update

Corporate Transparency ActRegulatory Roundup
December 10, 2024