About
Marlen advises clients in all areas of corporate governance, ESG/human rights and criminal compliance. She is a founding member of our ESG/Global Business and Human Rights practice and part of the firm’s Global Sustainability Leadership Team.
Marlen regularly publishes articles and presents at conferences and universities on compliance topics, with a focus on human rights and supply chain compliance as well as sustainability reporting.
Additional Information
Education
- Humboldt-University of Berlin, Germany (Dr. iur.)
- New York University School of Law, USA (LL.M.)
- Visiting Scholar at the University of Cambridge (UK), the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law (Freiburg, Germany), the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada)
- Law studies at the universities of Berlin, Germany, and Tours, France
- Legal training (Referendariat) at the Higher Regional Court of Berlin (Kammergericht), Germany and (inter alia) at the World Bank's Integrity Vice Presidency - Special Litigation Unit Anti-Corruption (Washington, D.C., USA)
Professional qualifications
- Attorney-at-law (Rechtsanwalt), Germany
Membership
- DICO (Working Group Anti-Money Laundering, Working Group Human Rights)
- Wirtschaftsstrafrechtliche Vereinigung e.V. (WisteV)
- Association Internationale de Droit Pénal (AIDP/IAPL)
- German Women Lawyers Association (djb)
Presentations
- „Human Rights Compliance", Seminar, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (30 November 2022)
- „Canadian and European Perspectives on Green Bonds and Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance: Opportunities and Challenges", Roundtable, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (online, 3 November 2022)
- „Sustainable Fashion", Panel, Future Forum, NYC, USA (6/7 October 2022)
- „Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung in Deutschland und der EU: Aktuelle Anforderungen und Trends", UN Global Compact Netzwerk Deutschland (online, 5 July 2022)
- „ESG – Gamechanger für M&A", CFS Lecture, The Center for Financial Studies / Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main (online, 17 May 2022)
- „Human Rights in Action", Seminar, Akademie für europäischen Menschenrechtsschutz, Universität zu Köln (Köln, 11 May 2022)
- „Evolving Legislation: How to stay ahead of the regulatory curve (Panel)", Responsible Sourcing and Ethical Trade Forum, Innovation Forum, (London, 4/5 April 2022)
- „Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz, EU-Regelungen & Co. - Was bedeutet das für mein Unternehmen?“, UN Global Compact Netzwerk Deutschland (online, June 2021)
- „Zur Bedeutung von Compliance - auch in der Krise", UPJ - European Pro Bono Week (online, 23 November 2020)
- „Germany's Push for Corporate Human Rights Responsibility", Universidad Carlos III / Universidad de Castilla la Mancha / AIDP (Madrid, 13/14 June 2019)

Dr. Marlen Vesper-Gräske
Principal Associate
T +1 646 761 5934
T +49 172 6770 040
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