Social Impact

Social impact today spans much more than philanthropy. It’s a fast-moving ecosystem of mission-driven companies and visionary investors reshaping markets. Cooley sits at the center of this ecosystem, providing unmatched experience with emerging companies, venture capital and fund formation for a client base building the future across sectors. This unique position helps us align mission with growth and turn purpose into performance.

We guide stakeholders through the complexities, opportunities and challenges of scaling impact – from structuring favorable deals with mission-driven investors and navigating evolving regulatory landscapes to forging connections between startups and funders. We are more than just lawyers – we are trusted advisors, strategic connectors and ecosystem builders.

Our capabilities include:

• Entity formation: Structuring impact-driven companies and social enterprises, including as public benefit corporations, tandem for-profit and nonprofit structures, and stewardship models like purpose trusts, to align with long-term mission and growth goals.
• Fund formation: Helping impact funds and managers design and raise capital, with structures that balance financial returns and measurable impact.
• Impact investing:
  • Advising impact investors, including venture capital funds, family offices and foundations, on financings of mission-driven companies across a variety of impact sectors, and structuring traditional debt and equity investments to incorporate social and environmental goals.
  • Advising companies receiving impact investments, including program-related investments and mission-related investments from foundations.
• Corporate governance: Helping boards anticipate regulatory and reputational challenges and advising on matters relating to mission preservation, impact measurement and reporting and certifications like B Corp, ensuring alignment of mission and fiduciary duty.
• Regulatory guidance: Navigating complex compliance frameworks for impact-oriented enterprises and investors.
• Strategic partnerships: Supporting collaborations between companies, investors and nonprofits to expand reach and accelerate mission.
• M&A and exit planning: Structuring transactions to preserve mission and maximize stakeholder value in liquidity events.
• Capital markets and initial public offerings (IPOs): Advising public benefit corporations and other impact-focused enterprises on IPO readiness and execution – including structuring considerations involving purpose trusts and dual-class share structures – and navigating disclosure obligations to align with investor expectations and public benefit commitments.

Cooley’s integrated approach ensures that impact isn’t an afterthought – it’s embedded in how we help mission-driven companies launch, scale and succeed with purpose. Impact cuts across industries, and our deep sector experience enables us to meet clients where they are and help them thrive at the intersections:

• Climate tech and cleantech: Helping companies and investors accelerate climate innovation, from renewable energy to carbon solutions.
• Wellness and digital health: Supporting companies advancing access, equity and health outcomes.
• Edtech: Advising platforms shaping the future of learning, from K-12 to workforce upskilling.
• Foodtech and agtech: Guiding innovators creating sustainable food systems and agricultural technologies.
• Biotech and life sciences: Supporting innovators advancing health, sustainability, and scientific progress across every stage of growth.