Both social entrepreneurs and investors face unique opportunities and challenges in the growth of early stage social enterprises. For entrepreneurs, understanding how to structure the business, design the financing round, and ready the company for outside capital are top of mind. For investors, recognizing what is unique about a social enterprise, the various forms of capital that may be deployed, and how to best support the investment are pertinent topics. This webinar will address the top legal considerations from both the entrepreneur and investor perspective for high growth early-stage social enterprises.
Featured Speakers
Jen Barnette, Attorney, Cooley
Jen Barnette’s practice focuses on the representation of companies and investors in the social impact and sustainability space. She counsels startups to late-stage private companies, venture capital investors and family offices on a broad range of general corporate and transactional matters. She has particular expertise working with new corporate forms like Delaware’s public benefit corporation (PBC) and counseling around B Corp certification and environmental, social and governance (ESG) and impact reporting. Jen is a member of Cooley's San Francisco pro bono committee and teaches Social Enterprise Law at UC Berkeley School of Law.
Erik Edwards, Partner, Cooley
Erik Edwards practices general securities and corporate law, with a focus on emerging growth companies, private financings, initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions. Erik represents companies and investors in a wide variety of areas, including software, hardware, Internet of Things, edtech, cleantech, life sciences, social impact, fashion, retail, unmanned vehicles, artificial intelligence, media, fintech and other areas in technology. He works with numerous incubators both nationally and internationally and speaks regularly on various corporate governance and financing topics.
