Benefit Corporations Arrive in Colorado

Benefit Corporations Arrive in Colorado

Last night Colorado became the fifteenth state to make the benefit corporation form available to entrepreneurs. Governor Hickenlooper signed the legislation in a bubbly ceremony at New Belgium Brewing Company. It goes into effect April 1, 2014. The law creates the “public benefit corporation” – a new kind of for-profit corporation, whose directors have a mandate [...]

Continue Reading —›
Water & Microfinance: A Source of Potential

Water & Microfinance: A Source of Potential

Our latest guest post arrives courtesy of two like-minded lawyers from across the pond, Anthony Murphy and Michael Vanaselja. Anthony is the founder and managing director of Prime Advocates, a UK-based firm that aims to apply their collective strategic, legal and business acumen toward advancing social impact businesses and impact investment transactions. Anthony brings over [...]

Continue Reading —›
Salvation Through Redemption?

Salvation Through Redemption?

The question of how impact-driven businesses approach exits continues to persist in our work. Paul Hudnut, friend of the firm, advisor at the Bohemian Foundation, professor of entrepreneurship and strategy at CSU’s Global Social & Sustainable Enterprise program,  and author of the “What’s a BOPreneur?” blog, shares his thoughts on how one redemption scheme might [...]

Continue Reading —›
Bin Laden to Big Society – Highlights from My Week Exploring the UK Impact Scene (Part 2)

Bin Laden to Big Society – Highlights from My Week Exploring the UK Impact Scene (Part 2)

It is hard not to dream about new financial catalysts for social change while in the UK – the British are not afraid to lead in this area. Maybe London’s position at the center of the financial world for centuries has helped the UK to become a leader in innovative social finance.  The first major [...]

Continue Reading —›
Bin Laden to Big Society – Highlights from My Week Exploring the UK Impact Scene (Part 1)

Bin Laden to Big Society – Highlights from My Week Exploring the UK Impact Scene (Part 1)

“In the 70s,” he tells me, “I moved to Saudi Arabia because that is where someone in the finance business could make money.  I routinely did business with the Bin Laden family.” This was part of a conversation with a gentleman who is now investing in Africa, including investments in projects with a social objectives.  [...]

Continue Reading —›
Impact Lawyering – Beyond the Desk

Impact Lawyering – Beyond the Desk

When I committed in early 2009 to focus my practice on the representation of  “impact investors” and “social enterprises,” I also committed that I would spend time in the places in which I was seeking to have a positive impact.  Since that time, I’ve travelled to India and Africa about a dozen times on trips [...]

Continue Reading —›