Image of Ken Rivlin

Ken Rivlin

Partner

Email

ken.rivlin@aoshearman.com

Phone

+1 212 610 6460

Offices

New York

V-CARD
Ken is Global Co-Head of Environmental & Sanctions. He is also a member of the Board.

Ken and his team advise corporates, financial institutions, funds, governments, and NGOs on a wide range of regulatory and risk issues in transactions, stand-alone compliance matters, and disputes, including: sustainability & ESG, climate risk, emissions trading & decarbonization, corporate reporting & disclosure, governance and risk management, the Equator Principles and similar voluntary standards, supply chain sustainability, toxic tort risk, and human rights.

Ken and his team also advise on U.S. and international economic sanctions, foreign direct investment rules (CFIUS), anti-corruption and anti-bribery compliance, and similar matters.Ken writes and speaks frequently on environmental and regulatory matters, and is a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia University School of Law, where he co-teaches a seminar called “Environmental and ESG Concerns in Business Transactions and Corporate Decision-making.” He is the former Chair of the Advisory Council for the Institute at Brown (University) for Environment and Society, Member (and former President) of the Board of Trustees for the Human Needs Food Pantry, Former Chair of the New York City Bar Committee on International Environmental Law, , a member of the Leadership Council for the Environmental Law Institute, and has served on numerous additional boards. He also is a core member of the International Environmental Lawyers Network, and a member of the Environmental Law Advisory Committee at Columbia Law School.

Ken is widely recognized as a leading international lawyer by the principal legal ratings publications, including Chambers & Partners (Ranked Band 1), The Legal 500 (Ranked as “Hall of Fame”) and Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders (“Recommended”).

Expertise

Business and human rightsCorporate and M&AJoint venturesM&A EmploymentCorporate governanceEnvironmental climate and regulatory lawChemicalsContaminated landEnvironmental health and safety regulatoryEnvironmental disclosure and corporate environmental transparencyBiodiversity protectionProduct stewardshipESG transactional supportWasteEnvironmental social and governanceEnvironmental and climate change litigationPrivate equityAdministrative and public lawForeign direct investment and CFIUSCrisis managementEnvironmentalTrade law and disputesExport controlsTrade commodity and export credit financeSanctions and international trade

Industries

Consumer and retailEnergyOil and gasDownstreamMidstreamLiquefied natural gasUpstreamPowerCarbon capture and storageRenewablesIndustrials and manufacturingInfrastructure and transportAirportsAviationPortsRailShippingWater and wasteLife sciences and healthcareFood and cosmeticsPharmaceuticalsMining and metalsReal estateMediaTelecommunicationsTechnologyPrivate capitalMedtech

Experience

Pro bono

Member (former President) amd Chair of the Nominating Committee, Board of Trustees, Human Needs Food Pantry

Former Member and Board Member, Pure Earth

Former Chair of Allen & Overy’s US Pro Bono Committee (2005-2017)

Published Work

  • Article: ‘Ten lessons in sustainability regulation introduction’, A&O Shearman, Mar 7, 2024, Matt Townsend, Ken Rivlin, Felise Cooper, Tom d’Ardenne, Goran Galic, Claie Haydon, Sam Jones, Tom Lodder, Kristina Nordlander, Udo Herbert Olgemöller, Arthur Sauzay, Jochem Spaans, Gauthier van Thuyne, Jaclyn Yeap, Jennifer Cresswell, Danielle Kendall
  • Article: ‘Will sustainability reporting and disclosure requirements improve ESG and financial performance?’, A&O Shearman, Mar 7, 2024, Matt Townsend, Ken Rivlin, Danae Wheeler
  • Report: ‘How big is the Net Zero financing gap?’, A&O Shearman, Sep 25, 2023, David Lee, Scott Neilson, Matt Townsend, Anna Masser, Ken Rivlin, Sally Dewar, Gauthier van Thuyne, Kate Sumpter, Bob Penn, Goran Galic
  • Report: ‘Financing the gap: a blueprint for decarbonization’, A&O Shearman, Mar 30, 2023, David Lee, Scott Neilson, Matthew Townsend, Anna Masser, Ken Rivlin, Sally Dewar, Gauthier van Thuyne, Kate Sumpter, Bob Penn, George Cannon, Goran Galic
  • Article: ‘Part 1: The current landscape of climate finance’, A&O Shearman, Sep 25, 2023, David Lee, Scott Neilson, Matthew Townsend, Anna Masser, Ken Rivlin, Sally Dewar, Gauthier van Thuyne, Kate Sumpter, Bob Penn, George Cannon, Goran Galic
  • Article: ‘Part 2: The need for sector- and region-wide climate strategies’, A&O Shearman, Sep 25, 2023, David Lee, Scott Neilson, Matthew Townsend, Anna Masser, Ken Rivlin, Sally Dewar, Gauthier van Thuyne, Kate Sumpter, Bob Penn, George Cannon, Goran Galic
  • Article: ‘Part 3: Public finance and policies must play a catalytic role’, A&O Shearman, Sep 25, 2023, David Lee, Scott Neilson, Matthew Townsend, Anna Masser, Ken Rivlin, Sally Dewar, Gauthier van Thuyne, Kate Sumpter, Bob Penn, George Cannon, Goran Galic
  • Article: ‘Part 4: Private finance is positioned to meet the opportunity and fill the needs gap’, A&O Shearman, Sep 25, 2023, David Lee, Scott Neilson, Matthew Townsend, Anna Masser, Ken Rivlin, Sally Dewar, Gauthier van Thuyne, Kate Sumpter, Bob Penn, George Cannon, Goran Galic
  • Article: ‘Part 5: Conclusion and potential solutions’, A&O Shearman, Sep 25, 2023, David Lee, Scott Neilson, Matthew Townsend, Anna Masser, Ken Rivlin, Sally Dewar, Gauthier van Thuyne, Kate Sumpter, Bob Penn, George Cannon, Goran Galic
  • Article: ‘Supply chains must evolve to keep pace with drive to Net Zero’, A&O Shearman, Nov 3, 2022, Ken Rivlin, Nick Ognibene, Felise Cooper, Romaric Lazerges, Arthur Sauzay, Pauline Choplin
  • Article: ‘Updated Equator Principles: What You Should Know About Version 4’, A&O Shearman, Mar 23, 2021, Ken Rivlin, Matt Townsend, Felise Cooper, Maria Christopher Bell, Nick Ognibene, Gauthier van Thuyne, Romaric Lazerges, Goran Galic
  • 'The REACH of Europe's Regulatory System: New Era Begins for Registration and Assessment of Chemicals', New York Law Journal, P. 9, July 14, 2008, by Kenneth Rivlin, Felise Cooper, Matthew Townsend and Rebecca Lawson
  • 'WEEE and RoHS Directives: New Requirements Impacting the Global Supply Chain of the High-Tech Industry,' American Competitiveness Institute, August 2005, with Jean-Philippe Brisson and David Wharwood
  • 'Preparing for the WEEE Directive,' Circuits Assembly, April 2005, with Jean-Philippe Brisson and David Wharwood
  • 'Proposed Rule Changes to Federal Civil Procedure May Introduce New Challenges in Environmental Class Action Litigation,' Harvard Environmental Law Review, Volume 27, Number 2, (July) 2003, with Jamaica Potts
  • 'Not So Fast: The Sealed Air Asbestos Settlement and Methods of Risk Management in the Acquisition of Companies with Asbestos Liabilities,' 11 NYU Environmental Law Journal, July 2003, with Jamaica Potts
  • 'Rising Environmental Stakes in Europe—The New Environmental Laws Applicable to Electrical and Electronic Equipment and What They Mean for High-Tech Companies,' AeA and Allen & Overy, April 2003
  • 'The Precautionary Principle Under U.S. Law,' 11 Environmental Liability 1, February 2003, with Jean-Philippe Brisson
  • '2002 Annual Report, Environmental, Energy & Resources Law: 2002 Year in Review 227,' 2003 (summary of recent developments in parent corporation liability), with Valerie Vena and the American Bar Association Environmental Transactions, Audits and Brownfields Committee
  • Atlantic Coast May End State Waste Flow Scheme,' New Jersey Law Journal, March 13, 1995 

Speaking Engagements

  • Ken frequently speaks or moderates panel discussions at Firm, industry, and client in-person and virtual events. 

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Lecturer-in-Law, Columbia Law School
  • Member, Leadership Council for the Environmental Law Institute
  • Member, International Environmental Lawyers Network
  • Member, the Environmental Law Advisory Committee, Columbia Law School
  • Member, New York Bar Association, New Jersey Bar Association, and Law Society
  • Former Chair and Member, the Advisory Council for the Institute at Brown (University) for Environment and Society
  • Former Chair and Member, International Environmental Law Committee for the New York City Bar Association
  • Former Adjunct Professor of Environmental Law, Cardozo Law School 

Recognition

“He has a talent for taking complicated matters and boiling them down to the critical points. He ensures you get the best legal advice, allowing you to make the best decisions for your business.”
Chambers USA 2021, Environmental: Mainly Transactional

Awards

  • Ken is widely recognized as a leading international lawyer by the principal legal ratings publications, including Chambers & Partners (Ranked Band 1), The Legal 500 (Ranked as “Hall of Fame”) and Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders (“Recommended”)

Qualifications

Admissions

Registered Foreign Lawyer, England and Wales, 2024

Admitted: Bar of the State of New York, 1997

Admitted: Bar of the State of New Jersey, 1995

Academic

J.D., cum laude, Boston University, 1994

B.A., Brown University, 1987

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.