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Students at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law showcased innovative legal approaches to pressing sustainability challenges during the Second Annual Profit and Purpose Action Award Competition, held in conjunction with the Westchester County Association’s (WCA) 5th Annual Profit & Purpose Sustainable Business Conference hosted at Haub Law on October 9, 2026.

The competition, organized through Haub Law’s Sustainable Business Law Hub, provides students with an opportunity to develop and present practical, forward-thinking legal solutions to real-world challenges at the intersection of business, law, and sustainability. This year's finalists explored a range of timely issues, including access to remedies for affected communities and Indigenous Peoples in the mining industry, climate disclosure requirements for small businesses, and the role of private-sector interests in debates surrounding data center development.

Samuel de Carvalho was named the 2026 Profit and Purpose Action Award winner for his presentation, “Grievance Mechanisms and Access to Remedies: Gaps and Solutions for Non-Judicial Remedy Measures in the Mining Industry.” His proposal examined how mining companies and downstream purchasers of mining products can use private legal mechanisms, including contracts, to expand access to dispute resolution and remedies for affected communities and Indigenous Peoples who are often excluded from traditional avenues of legal recourse.

“Too often, affected communities and Indigenous Peoples face significant barriers to accessing meaningful remedies when their rights are violated,” said Samuel. “My research explores how private legal mechanisms can help close those gaps and create greater accountability within global supply chains. It was a tremendous opportunity to share these ideas and engage with professionals who are working to advance more sustainable and responsible business practices.”

Fellow finalists, Haub Law students Harrison Bench and Alexa Williamson were also recognized for their thoughtful and innovative proposals addressing emerging sustainability challenges. Harrison presented “Right-Sized Reporting: Making Climate Disclosure Laws Work for Small Businesses,” and Alexa presented “Reflecting Private Sector Interests in the New York Data Center Moratorium.”

The finalists presented their proposals before a panel of judges that included Ayman Irfan, winner of the inaugural award in 2025 and an SJD candidate at Haub Law; Angela Iraldi, Senior Sustainability Manager with Skanska, who also served as a judge for last year's competition; and Kelly Raskauskas, Senior Managing Director of Sustainability, Government and Public Affairs with Webster Bank. Ayman's return as a judge reflected the competition's growing tradition of engaging students and past participants in conversations about the future of sustainable business law.

“The Profit and Purpose Action Award gives our students an opportunity to move beyond identifying sustainability challenges and develop practical legal solutions that can make a real difference,” said Professor Josh Galperin, Faculty Director of Haub Law’s Sustainable Business Law Hub and Associate Dean of the Environmental Law Program. “Sam, Harrison, and Alexa each demonstrated the creativity, critical thinking, and practical problem-solving skills that are essential to advancing sustainable business practices. Their work reflects the important role that the next generation of lawyers will play in shaping a more sustainable future.”

The Profit and Purpose Action Award competition is part of Haub Law's broader commitment to preparing students to address complex environmental and sustainability challenges through innovative, practical legal approaches. By connecting students with professionals working at the intersection of business, law, and sustainability, the competition provides a valuable opportunity to translate academic research and legal analysis into actionable ideas with real-world impact.

Held on the Haub Law campus in White Plains, the annual Profit & Purpose Sustainable Business Conference brings together professionals from business, government, law, and the nonprofit sector to explore strategies for advancing sustainability and fostering collaboration across industries. The competition further strengthens the partnership between Haub Law and the WCA while highlighting the next generation of legal professionals working to shape a more sustainable future.