We help clients create and invest for a better world.
Impact Counsel is at the intersection of impact investing and legal counsel. We work with projects, investors, companies and teams focused on sustainability and social impact who mobilize resources to advance the public good.
Practice Summary
Founders and entrepreneurs frequently feel called to solve problems that are bigger than themselves. We focus on helping visionary clients mobilize the resources needed to turn ideas into reality:
- Choosing the right business structure;
- Accessing investment and resources to scale;
- Finding the right business partners to succeed, and
- Compliance in environmental, social, and governance.
From working with the world’s largest impact venture fund investing in a client to working with the first African American female owned bookstore in Minneapolis, we love helping people and companies do great things. We have helped launch hundreds of organizations and new businesses, from non-profits to benefit corporations to more traditional LLCs and corporations. We have assisted in securing billions of dollars in project finance, growth and working capital and ongoing investment. We work with impact and infrastructure investors to invest in and buy successful and growing impact companies.
Many of our clients want their businesses to benefit society as well as our economy and the environment. We serve companies working to create positive impact in many industries in our economy, including financial services, Fintech, e-commerce, healthcare, as well as businesses that serve or directly assist underestimated populations. These social businesses need investment capital to create positive change in social issues. We bring our deep financing experience to the process of forming, building and operating sustainable social impact ventures.
We take ownership of the legal aspects of impact companies and projects, leveraging our colleagues as required, including in real estate, IP licensing, employment law, succession planning, mergers and acquisitions, public finance, corporate finance and other areas that will be necessary to support your next sustainability or social venture project.
When needed, we also utilize the talents of other lawyers and area experts to serve as local counsel or experts. In a world where the best lawyer or expert is only an email or Zoom call away, we can help you find the best resource wherever they may be located and manage that relationship seamlessly.
Attorneys
IMPACT COUNSEL MINNEAPOLIS MN
Working with Leading Industries to Make an Impact
Our client’s Impact spans all industries. A few of those we have worked with include:
- Renewable Energy, including wind, solar and biomass power generation;
- Energy Efficiency, including cleantech, building controls;
- Waste Reduction, including renewable natural gas generation, organics and composting;
- Circular Economy, including waste diversion and reuse;
- Sustainable Products, including green chemistry and bioplastics;
- Social Ventures, such as benefit corporations, nonprofits and cooperatives;
- Tribal Corporations and joint ventures; including locally-owned utilities and economic development projects;
- Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Proteins, including value-added products, and
- Investment Across all Markets, particularly impact investments and related Funds.
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Impact Counsel Clients
We work with a wide variety of clients on many different impact projects. From helping companies connect with investors, to supporting project developers and social and non-profit organizations, Avisen Legal will help you navigate the business and legal issues facing entrepreneurs and anyone with a self-defined purpose to create positive impact.
Our Unique Approach to Impact Counsel
We are business and impact advisors – who happen to be lawyers. We are grounded in Midwestern values with broad national reach. In fact, the breadth and depth of our individual and shared experience allows us to deliver our services on par with much larger competitor law firms and at a far better value. Most importantly, we work with our clients – particularly in our Impact Counsel practice – to ensure every aspect of impact work is crafting to maximize success, economically and in advancing your purpose.
Our Impact Counsel team is deliberately structured to build on our professional and personal synergy, including decades of experience in impact project finance and securities law; unique experience as a lawmakers and White House Task Force Chair and national leadership in nonprofits and social enterprises. We apply our hard-won lessons and deep experience across the impact landscape to advance our clients’ in sustainability and in social ventures.
But ultimately, we believe we are different because we truly and passionately care about our own impact in the world. That impact is expressed through our legal work in this area, as well as in our own lives where we dedicate significant time and effort to various worthy causes.
IMPACT COUNSEL VIDEOS
Contact Us
If you are interested in making an impact environmentally or socially, we would like to talk with you!
Frequently Asked Questions about Impact Counsel
Impact counsel is a unique legal service that supports clients focused on sustainability and social impact. This practice involves advising on legal issues related to impact investing, environmental compliance, and social enterprise development. Impact counsel helps clients mobilize resources, choose appropriate business structures, access investments, and navigate regulations to achieve their mission of creating positive social and environmental change.
Impact counsel serves a diverse range of clients, including social enterprises, non-profits, benefit corporations, and impact investors. Clients often work in sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, healthcare, financial services, and e-commerce. These clients are united by a commitment to creating positive social and environmental impact through their business operations and investments.
Impact counsel handles legal issues such as business formation, financing, regulatory compliance, contract negotiation, intellectual property protection, and governance. Additionally, we address specific challenges related to impact investing, environmental regulations, and social enterprise operations. Our goal is to ensure that clients can focus on their mission while navigating the complex legal landscape effectively.
Impact counsel differs from other types of legal representation by focusing specifically on clients with a mission to create positive social and environmental change. This practice combines traditional legal services with a deep understanding of sustainability, impact investing, and social enterprise. Attorneys in this field are often passionate about their clients’ missions and work collaboratively to align legal strategies with broader impact goals.
Avisen Legal has extensive experience with impact counsel cases, having assisted hundreds of organizations and secured project finance and investments. We have worked with a wide range of clients, from impact venture funds to small, mission-driven businesses. Our team brings decades of experience in impact project finance, securities law, and sustainable business practices, ensuring successful outcomes for our clients.
During an initial consultation with Avisen Legal about impact counsel, you can expect a thorough discussion of your mission, goals, and specific legal needs. Our attorneys will assess your current situation, provide preliminary advice, and outline how they can assist in achieving your objectives. We will also explain our approach, experience, and the potential legal strategies that can support your impact initiatives. This initial meeting aims to establish a clear understanding and a collaborative relationship.
Working with impact counsel provides tailored legal guidance to mission-driven organizations. Benefits include strategic advice on structuring for impact, navigating complex regulations, accessing impact investments, and ensuring compliance with environmental and social standards. This support helps our clients effectively pursue their goals while mitigating legal risks and enhancing their social and environmental impact.
Impact counsel supports sustainable business practices by advising on legal matters related to environmental compliance, renewable energy projects, sustainable supply chains, and corporate social responsibility. We help our clients implement practices that reduce environmental impact, comply with sustainability regulations, and leverage opportunities for sustainable growth, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future.
Impact investing plays a significant role in impact counsel services by providing capital to businesses and organizations that generate social and environmental benefits alongside financial returns. Impact counsel advises on structuring impact investments, negotiating terms, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations. We help our clients attract and manage impact capital, fostering growth and positive change.
Yes, our impact counsel can assist with obtaining certifications like B Corp by guiding our clients through the certification process, ensuring compliance with standards, and helping to implement necessary practices and policies. We provide legal support to meet the rigorous requirements of such certifications, enhancing our client’s credibility and commitment to social and environmental performance.
Impact counsel helps with stakeholder engagement by advising on strategies for transparent communication, collaborative decision-making, and stakeholder involvement in governance. We assist clients in developing policies and practices that promote positive relationships with stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors, and the community, ensuring that their interests are considered and aligned with the organization’s mission.
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