Member Guidance

Sotaro is currently a corporate lawyer specializing in cross-border M&A and finance at Nishimura & Asahi in London, UK. With the firm’s headquarters in Tokyo, he primarily provides legal services to Japanese clients. His expertise spans a wide range of corporate law, including: (a) social impact business, (b) impact finance, (c) asset management, (d) fund business, including offshore funds, (e) financial regulatory matters, (f) real estate finance and securitization, (g) global securities offerings, and (h) general corporate matters. Sotaro’s strengths lie in his detailed analysis of complex issues and his ability to promptly deliver optimal solutions. He has a strong interest in social impact business, particularly from a financial law perspective, and is passionate about sharing the knowledge and insights of impact law in the UK with countries across Asia.

Dan is an experienced attorney with a demonstrated history of working with non-profit organizations. An entrepreneur at heart, he advises social businesses and NGOs addressing today’s social, cultural and environmental issues. Most notably, he acts as general counsel to the Sustainable Infrastructure Foundation, an organization led and financed by the Multilateral Development Banks and headquartered in Geneva. Alongside his practice, Dan founded a non-profit aimed at providing legal and administrative support to the elderly and persons with disability in Geneva. He is a board member of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers as well as the Geneva Cancer Ligue. When he’s not at the office, he can most likely be found hiking with his family, running trails, and climbing mountains in the Alps.

Dr Alexandra von Westernhagen (AVW) is an EU and UK regulatory lawyer, educator and speaker with more than 20 years of experience across international law firms in Brussels and London, public institutions including the European Commission, and academia. She is qualified as a lawyer in Germany and in England & Wales.

Based in Brussels, Alexandra is an EU/Regulatory Partner at Keystone Law in the United Kingdom. She also runs her own training and advisory practice, AVW, through which she teaches and speaks internationally on the intersection of law, sustainability, technology and governance.

Her work focuses on regulatory frameworks that support sustainable and human-centred economic systems, including the EU sustainability framework and broader regulatory developments shaping responsible innovation and global markets.

Latin American lawyer and seasoned Legal Advisor specializing in sustainable finance, impact investments, and B Corps. She holds a Doctorate in Law and Social Sciences from UDELAR (Uruguay) and a Diploma in Sustainable Finance from Finis Terrae University (Chile), with vast experience in the legal structuring of BIC trusts and funds that follow triple-impact models to promote social, environmental, and economic benefits.

As the Founding Partner of YOUHUB Legal Impact Consultant, collaborated in drafting and promoting Uruguay’s groundbreaking BIC Law (No. 19,969), which supports businesses and trusts dedicated to collective benefit. She has published extensively on ESG, impact investing, and female leadership, contributing research and co-authoring works for international organizations that guide individuals and organizations in adapting to new, purpose-driven economic models (Researcher for Blab, IDRC, BID, GRI, ANII).

Beyond the work in sustainable finance, serves as a mentor and educator, leading initiatives on new economies and consulting for UN Women. Co-founder an active member of GAIL LATAM Regional Board, advocating for sustainable development and economic empowerment across the region.

Lila Gasca is the Pro Bono Director at Hogan Lovells México, where she has led impactful initiatives since 2009, aligning the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy with its global policies and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As an impact lawyer, she specializes in advising civil society organizations, microenterprises, and purpose-driven companies on complex legal challenges. Lila has been instrumental in advancing pro bono culture in Mexico and Latin America, co-founding the Pro Bono Mexico Standards to establish a national framework for legal impact work.

In addition to her pro bono expertise, Lila has driven successful programs in community impact, operational sustainability, diversity, equity, and inclusion, wellbeing and fundraising partnerships. She has also received numerous national and international awards for her contributions to pro bono and CSR initiatives.

A passionate advocate for systemic change, Lila is recognized for her ability to identify legal needs and craft innovative strategies to address social and environmental challenges. Currently, she serves as an advisor to various organizations, including Make a Wish México and the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers, she is Vice President of the Corporate Social Responsibility Commission at the International Chamber of Commerce México, and  Pro bono Council for Trustlaw.

Navine Karim is an attorney and international development executive with over 20 years of experience leading cross-cultural teams and strategically advising C-Suites and boards on complex legal, business and regulatory topics in dynamically evolving industries including consumer products, media, technology and sustainability.

Navine has worked in senior executive roles as General Counsel, Head of Impact and Corporate Secretary for Guayaki Yerba Mate, S.P.C.; Vice-President and Head of Business & Legal Affairs at Red Bull and Vice-President of Business & Legal Affairs at BET Networks/Paramount. Navine also spent several years with the International Law Institute in Kampala, Uganda where he advised national and multilateral organizations and oversaw projects related to promoting the rule of law and governance in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Presently, Navine is the founder of Global Impact Law, P.C., a professional services firm that provides fractional general counsel, legal support as well as strategic and compliance services for companies navigating the increasingly complex legal/regulatory and commercial frameworks shaping the future of sustainable business. Navine is also an Advisory Board Member at Impakt IQ, an investor-grade sustainability analytics platform, and a Board Member of 32° East, a non-profit organization that raises awareness about arts and culture in Uganda.

Navine earned his J.D. and M.A. in International Development from the American University in Washington, D.C. and a B.S. Degree in Business Administration with a focus in Finance and Economics at the University of Florida. Navine is licensed to practice law in California, New York and the District of Columbia; a member of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers, Tech GC, CSO Forum for Naturals, and a pro bono legal advisor to the Aga Khan Shia Ismaili Muslim Council in the US.

Sarah Ellington has significant and varied experience in cross-border disputes and crisis management for governments, governmental agencies and international organisations, as well as multinational corporations, particularly in relation to ESG, technology and fraud.

She helps clients obtain successful outcomes within a number of procedural frameworks including courts, arbitration, mediation, UN complaints (Special Procedure Mandates), OECD complaints to National Contact Points (Specific Instances) and private grievance mechanisms.

Sarah advises clients on risk management and governance issues associated with ESG, business and human rights and sustainability agendas, including emerging regulatory and “soft law” standards and how these interact with contractual, tortious and fiduciary duties.

She focuses on developing practical solutions in conjunction with clients, which businesses are able to implement throughout their operations without undue risk to commercial operations, or unnecessarily increasing litigation risk. This includes developing due diligence procedures and putting in place grievance redress mechanisms.

Sarah works with clients and colleagues across the globe, including across Africa, Asia and Latin America and has served on GAIL’s UK Regional Board and has represented GAIL at multiple events.