Socially Responsible Businesses

In pursuit of the dual aims of doing well (financially) and doing good (achieving positive social change), the socially responsible business has a multitude of options when it comes to legal structure. A nonprofit organization spins off a commercial enterprise derived from its programmatic work and creates a source of income; a commercial start up business with an innovative idea collaborates with a nonprofit to offer its product to benefit remote communities without access to resources; an entrepeneur seeking to make a profit and create jobs establishes a benefit corporation.

As the landscape of legal forms evolves to fulfill the objectives of the emerging “fourth sector” of business, finding the most efficent and effective path to take in order to generate revenue, ensure financial sustainability and generate returns for investors while achieving social outcomes presents a challenge to the entrepeneur.

At Perlman & Perlman, our attorneys have been assisting social entrepeneurs for more than fifteen years. We have in-depth knowledge of the means by which they can achieve their vision. Upon analyzing the client’s business plan, we map a strategy for establishing the entities, raising capital, planning for business operations, and growth. We use a variety of legal forms and techniques in planning strategies that are suited to the needs of each venture and designed to yield the best results over time. Finally we work hand in hand with our clients to make sure those strategies are implemented in an efficient and effective manner.

• Formation and Financing of Socially Responsible Businesses
• Governance, Strategy, Compliance
• Raising Funds
• Digital/IP
• Employment
• Exits

• Lead outside counsel for a major automotive company’s award-winning cause marketing campaign. Provided guidance in developing a framework and process to manage the contract and regulatory compliance across one of the most complex, large-scale campaigns in the history of cause marketing. The company has raised over $65 million for several national charities as well as hundreds of local charities.
• Representation of an internationally recognized health organization in connection with multi-million dollar sponsorships from leading businesses and brands, involving a variety of consumer cause marketing campaigns, including in-store, mobile, and social media promotions, and public service campaigns in television, print, radio, and digital media.