The Corporation (and Controlling Shareholders) in Politics in 2025

The Ira M. Millstein Memorial Conference was held on April 25, 2025, at Columbia Law School, co-hosted by the Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership and the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI).

Panel, The Corporation (and Controlling Shareholders) in Politics in 2025, explored the complex and evolving relationship between corporations and political engagement, particularly focusing on the role of CEOs, controlling shareholders, and boards in shaping corporate speech and political activity. Moderated by Dorothy S. Lund, the panel featured Jill Fisch, R. Glenn Hubbard, Robert Jackson, Tom C.W. Lin, and Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld. They examined historical and contemporary examples of corporate influence in politics—from FedEx’s early lobbying to modern controversies surrounding ESG, DEI, and political transparency.