About Us

The Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL) is a community of legal leaders who are using the practice of law to have a positive impact on people and the planet, and to accelerate the just transition. We believe lawyers are uniquely positioned to facilitate change and support the movement towards a more equitable system.

The Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers is unique in our operation. We are leveraging the expertise of lawyers to accelerate the shift of corporate models and capital to make sure business is truly a sustainable force for good, while drawing learning from across the spectrum of impact disciplines.

Our Strategy

We profile, connect, educate, inspire and mobilise impact lawyers – locally and around the world. Together, we aim to transform the role of the law and lawyers to accelerate the just transition. GAIL shares learnings that exist within our community widely to equip lawyers with the knowledge they need to take action.

What we are trying to achieve?

Lawyers are powerful advocates, champions and gatekeepers. Through our programming, we identify and showcase examples of some of the most impactful work lawyers across the world are engaged in. We highlight work that is capable of replication and multiplication and, by distributing insights and practical learnings effectively, enable lawyers in any part of the world to act on this knowledge.

What
We Believe

Mission

To grow the next generation of ‘impact lawyers’ who will advocate for and champion a rapid and just transition towards a truly sustainable and inclusive economy.

Vision

Our work will not end until the just transition has been achieved – and all lawyers are impact lawyers.

The Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL) focus is on the contributions that impact lawyers make to the wider global impact ecosystem. Impact lawyers are legal leaders working to have a positive impact on people and planet – personal success is measured in positive impact, not profit. 

Many are business and finance lawyers, some are litigators, some have other forms of expertise. Some work at major firms, others small. Some are senior, some junior. Some are practitioners, others academics. 

Impact lawyers work in many of the areas below to influence the impact economy and the practice of impact law.

  • Impact investing
  • Climate change and the law
  • Sustainable finance
  • Environmental, social and governance factors
  • Development finance
  • Blended finance
  • Business human rights
  • The social role of business
  • Corporate governance and corporate social responsibility
  • Benefit corporations and B Corps
  • Social enterprise and ‘for benefit’ enterprise
  • Social value commissioning and procurement
  • Cooperatives
  • International cooperation
  • Philanthropy and civil society
  • The rule of law
  • Future economic paradigms
  • Systems change
  • Public policy
  • Sustainable supply chains
  • Innovation and the law

In February 2022, esela – The legal network for social impact joined with the Benefit Company Bar Association (BCBA) and Red Latinoamericana de Abogados de Impacto (RLAI) to form the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers.

These networks saw a need for a global community of legal leaders using their careers to have a positive impact on people and the planet.

esela – The legal network for social impact was a non-profit global network of lawyers, advisors, academics and entrepreneurs. Their members shared a vision to create a sustainable and inclusive economy that promotes positive social impact. 

Red Latinoamericana de Abogados de Impacto (RLAI) was a group of Latin American lawyers who worked to produce, systematize and disseminate knowledge and analysis on the legal aspects of an economy focused on creating a positive social and environmental impact on public policies, investments and commercial activities.

The Benefit Company Bar Association (BCBA) was comprised of lawyers who advise benefit corporations and other forms of business organisations that have as part of their purposes creating positive benefits for society and the environment. The association sought to share the knowledge and experience of its members, to educate other lawyers and the public at large, and to promote the concept of doing business in a responsible and sustainable manner.

esela History

In 2013, the European Commission asked the consultants ICF and the UK law firm Bates Wells to undertake a study to map the shape and nature of social enterprise activity in 29 European countries as part of its flagship ‘Social Business Initiative’.

The idea of a legal network for social impact developed naturally from the mapping study, as it became clear that no such network of experts existed. At a roundtable event hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels in January 2015, the European Social Enterprise Law Association (ESELA) was formed.

In 2018, ESELA became esela -The legal network for social impact. The rebrand of esela reflected the network broadening beyond social enterprise into impact in its broadest sense, as well as the growing membership outside of Europe.

RLAI History

In 2015, Red Latinoamericana de Abogados de Impacto (RLAI) was founded as a result of collaborative, open and committed work of many. It originated from groups of lawyers from many countries engaged in public policy discussions and initiatives led by Sistema B. Together, we made it possible.

RLAI contributed to debates on legal structures and the institutional environment related to business practices, legal formats and impact investments. It supported initiatives and organisations in the impact ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Our Latin American identity and desire for integration is linked by the understanding of the role of lawyers among the power of positive impact and of the legal design as a means to achieve justice, equity, diversity and social inclusion and to foster responses to the climate crisis.

BCBA History

In 2016, the Benefit Company Bar Association (BCBA) was formed by lawyers who were active in the enactment of benefit corporation laws in various U.S. states. The purpose of the BCBA was to build a community of lawyers who advise benefit corporations and other forms of business organisations that create positive benefits for society and the environment.

The BCBA sought to share knowledge and expertise, and encourage collaboration amongst lawyers interested in promoting positive change in business practices and business law.

The BCBA promoted and conducted conferences, seminars, and workshops to share global guidance and court decisions. Its programming equipped the BCBA community of lawyers to better assist their clients to conduct business in a responsible and sustainable manner.

GAIL adheres to The Imperatives for Economic System Change, co-created by Imperative 21 coalition.

The Imperatives

Design for Interdependence

  • Recognize the interdependence of healthy people, planet, and economies
  • Balance the relationships between the private sector, government and civil society
  • Ensure that everyone has access to free and fair markets

Invest for Justice

  • Remove structural inequality
  • Ensure leadership and ownership are more inclusive, and investment more accessible
  • Use technology to advance democratic ideals and human rights
  • Promote greater voice, power and opportunity for those currently marginalized

Account for Stakeholders

  • Measure success based on credible common metrics of sustainable value creation for all stakeholders
  • Create incentives that reward business and investments creating social and environmental value
  • Enhance standards of fiduciary duty

Constanza Connolly

President

Co-founder, Keidos Legal Impact

Constanza Connolly is an attorney at law from the Universidad de Buenos Aires and she obtained her Masters in Corporate Law from Universidad Austral.

She is specialized in corporate law, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions. She has a vast experience in business seeking social and environmental positive impact. She advises on the design and development of impact funds aimed at boosting sustainable finance and focusing on ESG (environmental social governance). She specialized in sustainable value chains and complex structures for the creation of solutions for non-traditional figures, including organizations with non-profit and for-profit “hybrid-structures”.

She recently co-founded Keidos Legal Impact, a consultancy focused on generating, facilitating and/or escalating the impact of organizations seeking to make sustainability central to their DNA. building the impact market in Latin America, and on developing public policies for the new impact economy.She co-founded the “Latin American Impact Lawyers Network” to boost impact businesses in the region and she is a member of its Board. She has been appointed as Vice President of GAIL Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers. She is also a board member of Argentina NAB – GSG Impact Investment Task Force. She actively participates in the “Latin America Payment by Result Network.

Michael Ryland

Vice President

Director, Centre for Social Finance Law

Michael Ryland is the principal and founding director of the Centre for Social Finance Law.
Michael has over 35 years of broad ranging experience in corporate finance, investment funds and commercial law, including 20 years as a partner at global law firms Ashurst and Herbert Smith Freehills.  He has worked in Australia, Japan and Indonesia, and has spent two years as a full time Commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC).
Michael has particular experience in the law relating to social investment, working with a range of for-purpose and for-profit clients on social impact projects, both domestic and cross-border.  This has included work on social investment fund structures, social impact bonds and other financial instruments, social infrastructure projects, social and affordable housing, disability services and accommodation, and community initiatives and projects.

Melissa Manzo

Board Secretary

General Counsel, AgDevCo

Melissa heads up AgDevCo’s legal team and has a background in international debt financing. Melissa and her team advise on the structuring and documentation of AgDevCo’s investments, on regulatory, compliance and governance matters applicable to AgDevCo in the UK and in its countries of operation in sub-Saharan Africa, and on the development of AgDevCo’s policies and procedures. Melissa sits on AgDevCo’s Executive Committee and is the Chair of AgDevCo’s Technical Assistance Committee. Prior to joining AgDevCo, Melissa worked at the international law firm Allen & Overy LLP for 12 years, where she advised on cross-border banking and restructuring transactions. Whilst at Allen & Overy, Melissa founded and managed its microfinance and social investment group and worked on a number of pro bono matters. She has also spent time on secondment to the emerging markets desk at Citigroup. Melissa has a BA in Oriental Studies from Oxford University and a postgraduate diploma in law from BPP Law School.

Alissa Pelatan

Alissa Pelatan

Europe Representative

Founder & Partner, AMP Avocats

Elizabeth Lange

North America Representative

Attorney, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Emiliano Giovine

Europe Representative

Partner, RP Legal & Tax

Frances Holliday

United Kingdom Representative

General Counsel, LeapFrog Investments

Gina Pereira

North America Representative

Founder, Dāna Stewardship Advisory,

Jessica Blumenthal

Africa Representative

Director, ENS

Juan Diego Mujica Filippi

Latin America Representative

Evolution Guide, Nativa

Luke Fletcher

Emeritus Director

Partner, Bates Wells

NanaAma Botchway

Africa Representative

Managing Partner, N. Dowuona and Company

Naomi Sander

United Kingdom Representative

Senior Legal Counsel & ESG-Impact Lead, Asset Green

Oliver Hunt

Secretariat Representative

Senior Associate, Bates Wells

Rachel Avellar Sotomaior Karam

Latin America Representative

Partner, Trotta, Eberhart, Sotomaior Karam

Roberto Randazzo

Emeritus Director

Head of ESG and Impact, Legance

Tze-Wei Ng

Asia Pacific Representative

Associate, Stephenson Harwood

Vivien Teu

Asia Pacific Representative

Partner and Head of Asset Management & ESG, Dentons Hong Kong LLP

NanaAma Botchway

Chair, GAIL Africa

Managing Partner, N. Dowuona and Company

NanaAma Botchway is internationally ranked and recognized as a tier 1, band 1 market leader in M&A, banking, finance, and infrastructure projects. In addition to her top level rankings by Chambers and the IFLR1000, NanaAma is the only lawyer in Ghana to be named an “Elite Leading Individual” for corporate and M&A by The Legal 500.

 

Some of her representations include the USD 1 billion Ghana National Identification Card  PPP; the USD 200 million sale of Fan Milk International; the acquisition, development and  divestment of the USD 100 million Movenpick Ambassador Hotel; and Leapfrog Strategic  African Investment’s USD 180 million investment in the Enterprise Insurance Group.

 

NanaAma has served on numerous boards of directors in Ghana and other parts of Africa. She is an independent NED, chairman of the social, ethics and sustainability committee and minority shareholder representative on the board of MTN Ghana. As founder and managing partner, NanaAma has led her firm to top-rankings in Corporate & M&A, Infrastructure Projects and Banking and Finance. The firm was named Law Firm of the Year (2023) by Chambers & Partners at Chambers Africa Awards and was shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year West Africa by the African Legal Awards (2023).

Aurelie Pujo

Senior Advisor, Amethis

Benita Murray-Bruce

Senior Legal Counsel, Nithio

Camilla Achieng Omollo

Legal Counsel, Mirova SunFunder

Didier Boua Doux

Managing Partner, Kwaliance

Eliud Ogutu

Partner, Ogutu + Associates

Gilbert Chishala Chama

Partner, Abigail & Chama Advocates

Jesse Zigmund

General Counsel, M-KOPA

Jessica Blumenthal

Director, ENS

Noreen Kidunduhu

Founder, Noreen & Co

Dr. Ammara Farooq Malik

Chair, GAIL Asia Pacific

Founding Principal Attorney, AFMalik Law- Attorneys & International Development Consultants

Pakistan

Dr. Ammara Farooq Malik is a Pakistani corporate and impact lawyer, international social entrepreneur and international development expert with over 23 years of professional experience across various multidisciplinary sectors such as academia, Law, social entrepreneurship, international development, gender and green infrastructure development.

She is Founder of the Seplaa Group (CEO of Seplaa Canada, Seplaa Enterprises-Pakistan, AFMalik Law, SEPLAA Foundation and Impact World Press). As Founder Principal Attorney of AFMalik Law- Attorneys & International Development Consultants, she is also the first impact lawyer of Pakistan focusing on the integration of ESG (Environment, Sustainability & Governance) clauses in companies’ legal compliance documents and has created the 5 Cog Wheels for Sustainable Business Strategy Tool for impact law, impact investing and policy integration in impact businesses for a transdisciplinary holistic approach towards development.

She has presented as a legal, gender, climate change and social enterprise expert at international conferences at UNESCO (Kazakhstan), CGA New York University (USA), University of Kent (UK), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development-ICIMOD (Nepal), Asia Pacific Adaptation Network’s Climate Change Adaptation Forum (Colombo and Manila), Hollings Centre for International Development (Maldives & Turkey) and the Asian Development Bank (Singapore).  She is a US World Learning IVLP Alumna, Former Chairperson of the Lahore High Court Bar Association Committee on ‘Climate change, Infrastructure, Gender & SE Laws’ and is presently the Co- Lead for the ICIMOD Nepal Technical Working Group for ‘Data Analysis’ for Climate change adaptation’s scientific research in the Upper Indus Basin.

Brian Tang

Founding Executive Director, LITE Lab at Hong Kong University

Hong Kong

Dr Joseph Chun

Partner, Shook Lin & Bok

Singapore

Giana Lin

Partner, Fuguan Law

China

Jon Cheung

Partner, Prolegis Lawyers

Australia

Michael Ryland

Director, Centre for Social Finance Law

Australia

Phillippa Wilkie

Special Counsel, Chapman Tripp

New Zealand

Sotaro Hotta

Associate, Nishimura & Asahi

Japan

Steven Moe

Partner, Parry Field Lawyers Limited

New Zealand

Takahisa Watanabe

Senior Associate, Nishimura & Asahi

Japan

Tze-Wei Ng

Associate, Stephenson Harwood

Hong Kong

Vivien Teu

Partner and Head of Asset Management & ESG, Dentons Hong Kong LLP

Hong Kong

Emiliano Giovine

Chair, GAIL Europe

Partner, RP Legal & Tax

Italy

Emiliano is the head of the Impact & Sustainability team at RP Legal & Tax.

He mainly deals with nonprofit entities, social enterprises, socially oriented corporate vehicles, NGOs and international organizations. He advises these entities in the phases of incorporation, reorganizations, extraordinary transactions and adjustments required by the Third Sector Code.

He also provides support on ESG matters to leading national and international companies. More specifically, he deals with the adoption and implementation of sustainability models, corporate policies and ethical codes, the acquisition of the Benefit Corporation status and the B Corp certification, as well as ESG/human rights due diligence, non-financial reporting and impact measurement.

Emiliano has ten years of experience in the impact economy sector. In particular, he has been involved for years in several international cooperation projects and policy-making activities, led by NGOs and by the United Nations, focused on the integration of migrants and refugees through entrepreneurial initiatives. He is also tutor of the “Human Rights and Migration Law Clinic” legal training program at the Faculty of Law of the University of Turin. He cooperates with Tiresia – Politecnico di Milano on legal issues related to social business and social innovation.

In the past years, Emiliano was a consultant of the United Nations at UNEP and a Legal Officer at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. He holds a master’s degree in Environmental Law and management from Cà Foscari University of Venice and is currently a PhD candidate in Public International law at Utrecht University.

Since 2019 he has been board member and legal coordinator of the NGO “ResQ Onlus – People Saving People”.

Alberta Longanesi Cattani

Senior Associate, Ince

Alissa Pelatan

Alissa Pelatan

Founder & Partner, AMP Avocats

France

Anh-Thu Thai

Counsel, id est avocats Sàrl

Switzerland

Benoit Spitaels

Founding Partner, Impact Advocaten

Belgium

Dan Fuochi

Partner, Impulsius

Switzerland

Dr. Alexandra von Westernhagen

Partner, EU Sustainability at LiberiusLegal

Belgium

María Peña

Head of Legal, Risk & Compliance, Symbiotics SA

Switzerland

Raluca Radu

General Counsel, The Impact Facility and Co-founder and Board Member at The LISI Foundation

Netherlands

Roberto Randazzo

Head of ESG and Impact, Legance

Italy

Rutherford Hubbard

Manager Legal (Private Equity and Structured Finance) at FMO , The Dutch Development Bank

The Netherlands

Paola Fonseca

Co-Chair, GAIL Latin America

General Counsel, Viva Idea

Costa Rica

Paola Fonseca is VIVA Idea ́s General Counsel, and Public Policy Director. VIVA Idea is a Latin- American organisation dedicated to strengthening sustainable development across the Global South through Action Research projects; it offers solutions to enhance collective impact strategies focused on social inclusion and sustainability.

She is a lawyer with more than 18 years of experience in international corporate law and governance; she has an MBA and a Post-MBA from INCAE Business School and is developing her PhD (focused on how to design a public policy that promotes Impact Investment) at the United Nations University for Peace and alumni of the University of Oxford ́s Social Impact Program. She also teaches MBA courses on incorporating the in-house lawyer perspective into the decision-making process, focused on ESG compliance.

After a long career in the for-profit sector, where she held the roles of Regional In-House Counsel for the Americas and Head of Governance for Iberia-America (Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Spanish Speaking Latam and North America) at TMF Group, a global corporate compliance services company, she moved to the non-profit sector to promote public policies that foster Impact Investment, where she leads, among others, important regional projects such as the GSGII Latin American NABs strategic alignment processes and the implementation of the Central American governments impact investment program for SMEs.

Paola also sits on the board of directors of the International Association for Human Values, an NGO with consultative status at the UN, the Vance Center ́s Woman in the Legal Profession (Costa Rica Chapter), is the President of the Central American In House Counsels Association and Secretary of the World Compliance Association (Costa Rica Chapter), among others.

After studying creative writing at the University of Oxford, she developed her passion for creative writing; she has published her first novel, Pen Pal Feathers and short stories in various languages.

Guillermo Tejeiro Gutiérrez

Co-Chair, GAIL Latin America

Director of Sustainability and ESG for LATAM, Citi

Colombia

Accomplished sustainability/ESG lawyer, with a background on environmental law, climate change, energy transition, Nature Based Solutions – NbS, ethnic law and green business, holding a master’s degree in environmental and energy law, and several certifications and postgraduate diplomas on ESG and sustainable business. Experience in law firms, NGOs, research groups and companies across Europe and Latin America.

Almost 2 decades of specific experience advising in sustainability, environmental and social compliance, environmental and social due diligence, environmental litigation, Nature Based Solutions – NbS, climate change and natural markets, industrial reconversion and innovation, just transition, environmental tax breaks, circular economy, water management, air quality, stakeholder engagement and social license, B-corps, ethnic communities and FPIC, environmental and social risk management, and purpose driven companies. Also, experienced sustainability project leader in charge of defining and implementing internal ESG/sustainability strategies, engaging with internal and external stakeholders, boards, and C-suites, and promoting sustainability as a core value of the business.

Experience in several jurisdictions working with multicultural partners in multilingual environments. Guillermo performs his work in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, and currently serves in several international professional associations related with environmental, social and sustainability/ESG/Impact issues, with a focus on LATAM. Lecturer at several universities in Colombia and author of several publications on environmental law, renewable energy, sustainable finance, sustainability, ESG and law.

 

Agostina Coniglio

Partner, Keidos Impacto Legal

Argentina

Alexandro Cea

Legal Advisor in International Affairs, Ministry of Finance

Chile

Aline Gonçalves Videira de Souza

Partner, Szazi, Bechara, Storto, Reicher and Figueiredo Lopes Advogados

Brazil

Annalucia Fasson Llosa

Socia Senior del Área Corporativa, Muñiz Olaya Melendez Castro Ono & Herrera abogados

Peru

Bruno Camargo

Partner and Head, Latin America Desk at Liance Legal

Brazil

Daniela Solis

Senior Associate, Ritch Mueller

Mexico

Ivana Calcagno

Founding Partner, You Hub

Uruguay

James E. Ritch

Counsel, Ritch Mueller

Mexico

Juan Diego Mujica Filippi

Evolution Guide, Nativa

Juliana Miranda

Founding Partner, Hernandez Lerner & Miranda Advocacia (HLMA)

Brazil

Lila Gasca

Pro Bono Director – Responsible Business, Hogan Lovells

Mexico

Magdalena Enei

Directora fundadora, La Siembra SpA

Chile

Elizabeth Lange

Chair, GAIL North America

Attorney, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Elizabeth Lange co-leads the ESG team at Faegre Drinker. Based in Philadelphia, she advises clients on M&A, Governance and B Corp matters.

Lizzie represents public and private clients, including Fortune 50 and startup companies, in mergers and acquisitions, governance, and other corporate and securities matters. Recognized for her involvement in social enterprise and impact finance law, Lizzie has written extensively on legal and regulatory issues relating to social enterprise legal forms.

Allen Bromberger

Founding Partner, Bromberger Law

Amaris White

Impact Investing Principal, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Amy Willey

Attorney , McDonald Hopkins LLC

Gina Pereira

Founder, Dāna Stewardship Advisory,

Karyn Polak

Founder and President, Shift the Prism Advisory

United States

Kevin Christopher

Founder & Principal, Rockridge Venture Law

Leslie Cornell

Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Policy Advisor, Social Finance

Scott DeWald

Partner, Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP

Ranajoy Basu

Chair, GAIL UK

Partner, McDermott, Will & Emery LLP

Ranajoy Basu Heads McDermott, Will & Emery’s impact finance practice having extensive experience in debt capital markets and impact finance transactions. Ranajoy is recognised as one of the world’s leading lawyers in cross-border climate change and impact finance structures, including social and development impact bonds, renewable energy and “green” structured finance transactions as well as being a legal expert in adaptive and sustainable finance. He advised on the very first impact bond and has since, advised on some of the most innovative financial inclusion structures around the world targeting both environmental and social sustainability. Ranajoy’s key clients include supranationals, multilateral development banks, NGOs, not-for profit entities, impact funds, industry bodies, regional authorities, banks and corporates on structuring social impact finance solutions. He is a regular speaker on climate change, social sustainability and innovative finance.

Chris Garner

Associate General Counsel, SunFunder

Christina Bartholomew

Lawyer, co-Founder of Stories Evolved, a UK-based ESG Consultancy, Sustainability Teaching Fellow (FHEA)

United Kingdom

David Hunter

Consultant, Bates Wells

Fenella Chambers

Counsel Responsible Business (Pro Bono) Lawyer, Hogan Lovells

United Kingdom

Frances Holliday

General Counsel, LeapFrog Investments

Jonathan Gilmour

Partner, Head of Derivatives & Structured Products, Travers Smith

Mark Kenderdine-Davies

Chief Legal Officer, CDC Group

Matthew Hobbs

Senior Associate, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

United Kingdom

Melissa Manzo

General Counsel, AgDevCo

Naomi Sander

Senior Legal Counsel & ESG-Impact Lead, Asset Green

Rhian Thomas-Turner

R&D Lead, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales

United Kingdom

Richard Gerrard

Senior Legal Counsel, AgDevCo

Sarah Ellington

Legal Director, DLA Piper

Sarah Dobson James photo

Sarah Dobson James

Executive Director

Sarah is the Executive Director of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers,  a community of legal leaders who are using their careers to have a positive impact on people and the planet, and to accelerate the just transition.

Sarah runs GAIL from the offices of Bates Wells, the first UK law firm to become a B Corp, where she was previously Impact Economy Manager.

Sarah was named one of the top 100 Women in Social Enterprise in the UK and a finalist for the Rising Star award in 2023.

She is a Fellow of On Purpose, the profit with purpose leadership programme. Her career has spanned impact investment at Better Society Capital, as well as improving access to justice in the UK as Head of Trusts at Support Through Court, and in Kenya and Uganda at African Prisons Project.

Sarah was called to the Bar of England and Wales and holds qualifications in Law and English.

Keya Advani

Director of Programmes and Policy

Keya is the Director of Programmes and Policy at the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers, after previously serving as its Executive Director (Maternity Cover) during 2022 – 23.

Before this, Keya was a practising solicitor at Bates Wells, in the firm’s Charity & Social Enterprise department and part of its Impact Economy practice, advising businesses, financial institutions, NGOs, social enterprises, B Corps and impact investors on a range of legal issues.

She qualified as a banking & finance lawyer at Linklaters LLP in London and has worked and seconded with a range of organisations in the private and non-profit sectors internationally, including the Human Rights Law Network (India), the Global Justice Centre (USA), the Mary Ward Legal Centre (UK) and Big Society Capital (UK). She is a member of The Chancery Lane Project’s Advisory Group and was formerly a trustee of the Centre for Innovation in Voluntary Action (CIVA).

Keya has a BA in Comparative Literature from Hamilton College (USA), an LLB from the University of Cambridge (UK) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights Law from the National Law School of India University (India). She is committed to using the law as a tool to create positive change and is interested in collaborative, transnational ways to address global, systemic problems.

Bates Wells is the secretariat of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers and a Founding Member.

Bates Wells is a London law firm with a difference. The firm focuses on positive social impact as much as it focuses on being commercially successful.  Bates Wells’ top tier legal advice is coupled with a real desire to drive change. It was the first UK law firm to achieve B Corp status, a certification awarded to businesses that balance purpose and profit, following a rigorous audit of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

Bates Wells’ clients are diverse –from corporate household names, to public bodies, to start-ups. Work for NGOs, not-for-profits, socially-focused investors and other impact organisations represents around 65% of the firm’s business.

Bates Wells has influenced some of the major developments in the UK social investment and purposeful business space, including:

  • the design of community interest companies and social investment tax relief,
  • advising the UK Government Inclusive Economy Unit on governance options for inclusive and purpose-driven businesses, and
  • the creation of the statutory social investment power for charities.

Bates Wells challenges what is possible in legal expertise delivery. Learn more at bateswells.co.uk/better-business.

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