Home > Our Services > Practices > Impact Investing
Practices

Impact Investing

Impact investing is reshaping finance by channeling capital into social and environmental priorities while delivering competitive returns. Morgan Lewis helps impact-driven clients structure investments, form mission-aligned entities and investment funds, develop innovative impact financing mechanisms, and navigate complex regulations worldwide.

With more than 50 lawyers across nine practices with experience in impact investing—and based in 15 offices spanning the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East—we combine cross-practice depth and global reach to provide practical strategies that advance client missions while safeguarding financial and operational objectives.

resource

US ADMINISTRATION POLICIES & PRIORITIES
Visit our resource center for the latest on executive orders, tariffs, and other executive or agency actions.

resource

Venture Capital & Private Equity Funds Deskbook

blogs

All Things FinReg:
Your Go-To Source For Banking And Financial Regulatory Developments

We guide foundations, public charities, social welfare organizations, and corporate philanthropy programs in structuring and deploying capital for impact.

  • Forming and advising tax-exempt entities
  • Grants and recoverable grantmaking
  • Program-related investments (PRIs) 
  • Mission-related investments (MRIs)
  • Sponsorship of mission-aligned investment funds
  • Developing multifunder impact funding mechanisms
  • Deploying catalytic capital

We advise on the formation and operation of investment funds focused on measurable social and environmental outcomes.

  • Formation of impact-focused funds
  • Impact fund structures, including charity sponsored funds, blended finance vehicles, loan commitment funds, and use of tax credits
  • Impact investor representation: review of impact fund documentation and direct impact investments

We create corporate governance and entity structures that safeguard social missions, achieving mission-lock while enabling growth and investment.

  • Developing complex impact structures and joint ventures involving tax-exempt organizations and mission-driven for-profits
  • Formation of mission-driven companies, including public benefit corporations and designated B-corps
  • Governance and conflicts of interest
  • Implementing corporate impact and inclusion programs
  • Public company disclosure matters relating to impact and inclusion
  • Assisting with direct impact investments
  • Protection of critical intellectual property

We counsel family offices and private philanthropists on structuring and sustaining long-term strategies for achieving impact goals.

  • Impact investor representation
  • Estate and gift tax planning for philanthropic purposes
  • Tax counseling

We develop advanced financing solutions that mobilize capital at scale for global social and environmental initiatives.

  • Development of innovative impact financing structures and multifunder vehicles, including blended finance and catalytic capital
  • Unitranche impact-based debt facilities and multifunder debt vehicles
  • Retail note offering, private placements, and securitization of impact assets
  • Loan purchase agreement structuring, including CDFI assets
  • Debt-for-nature swaps, green loans, and blue bonds
  • Guarantee structures

We help clients navigate evolving impact regulations and manage emerging legal risks.

  • Advising on the SEC Investment Advisers Act and other SEC regulatory issues
  • Counseling on new and emerging legal issues affecting the impact space
  • Keeping our clients updated on regulatory developments in the impact space
  • Managing risk in a changing litigation environment