David W. Rivkin, a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and President of the International Bar Association (IBA), will serve as Chair of an anti-corruption roundtable at the United Nations Private Sector Forum 2015, which takes place on September 26, 2015 at the UN Headquarters.

Hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and including addresses by both him and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the United Nations Private Sector Forum 2015 will focus on the role of the private sector in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  Convened in the context of the UN summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, the interactive Forum is designed to increase understanding of efforts underway by the private sector and civil society, and provide a platform for the private sector to announce long-term goals and partnerships that will make an important contribution towards achieving sustainable development for all. 

Corruption remains one of the greatest impediments to social, economic and political development across the world. According to the World Bank, corruption adds up to 10% to the total cost of doing business globally and up to 25% to the cost of procurement contracts in developing countries.

The anti-corruption roundtable chaired by Mr. Rivkin will focus on actions that can be taken by the private sector, independently and together with the public sector, to promote transparency, integrity and accountability in ways that also help advance the broader SDG agenda. It will also explore additional actions that governments can take to support the private sector in this area.

In addition to being consistently ranked as one of the top international dispute resolution practitioners in the world and serving as President of the IBA, Mr. Rivkin is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He was appointed by the U.S. State and Commerce Departments to be a founding member of the NAFTA Advisory Committee on Private Commercial Disputes. He is also a member of the U.S. Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Private International Law and a member of the Sanctions Subcommittee of the Department of State’s Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy (ACIEP). In addition, he is a Trustee of the Magna Carta Trust and serves as a member of the Board of British American Business.

All participating executives at the Forum are encouraged to submit an action that aims to advance the SDGs. This may include: setting ambitious corporate goals aligned with the SDGs, expanding an existing partnership or launching a new initiative together with partners. Submissions will be made visible to a wide audience, including with the media and on the UN Global Compact’s UN-Business Action Hub, an online platform where UN entities and business can engage in dialogue, share information and take action to advance UN goals and objectives.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. We deliver effective solutions to our clients’ most important legal challenges, applying clear commercial judgment and a distinctively collaborative approach.