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B Corps, ESG & Social Enterprises

We help companies become Certified B Corps, implement ESG practices, and scale social enterprises.

We understand business as a force for good. We’re one of the only B Corp and 1% For The Planet law firms in the country. As Tech Lawyers for Good, we help businesses make profit + purpose business models scale.

Our team of attorneys assists clients in a variety of industries across multiple impact areas, including: 

B Corp Certification

Benefit Corporation Conversions

Climate Change & GHG Reporting

Consumer Privacy Policies 

Corporate Governance

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Policies

ESG Securities  Regulation

Impact Investment Strategies

Innovation

Mergers & Acquisitions

SBA Certifications & Compliance

Social Impact Strategies

Examples of our services include:

B Corp Certification

Ask most lawyers what a B Corp is and they will likely confuse B Corps with Benefit Corporations. These are actually complete different structures, and as one of the only B Corp law firms in the country we regularly help business understand the differences and what they could and should pursue. We help B Corp consultants with certification by advising on qualifying “mission lock” corporate governance structures. We help founders establish proper corporate structures and adopt policies to one day become Certified B Corps. We help companies acquire and merge B Corps, and we help B Corps navigate sales of their companies. We help existing B Corps improve their policies and processes for re-certification. Working with mission-oriented B Corps inspires us and makes us extremely happy attorneys, so we like to go the extra mile with B Corp legal services.

B Corp Legal Governance

The B Corp framework includes an assessment of corporate structure and policies resulting in a governance score that dictates whether a company can be certified in the U.S. and/or abroad. We help companies implement community, employee, and supply chain policies that implicate the B Corp Impact Assessment score. We also help companies choose or convert to the right corporate structure required by B Lab to reduce shareholder primacy and satisfy the mission lock.

Benefit Corporation Registration

We create social enterprises that are sustainable, just, and profitable. One legal model underpinning today’s social enterprise is the Public Benefit Corporation. We help companies launch as Delaware Benefit Corporations, as well as statutory public benefit corporations under other state laws. It’s important to understand not only the distinction between Certified B Corps and Benefit Corporations, but also the variation in Benefit Corporation structuring and operations among states. We help Georgia Benefit Corporations, Florida Benefit Corporations and New York Benefit Corporations alike to structure and operate in ways to minimize shareholder primacy and maintain the core values of founders and early leaders.

Benefit LLC Registration

A handful of states provide for Benefit LLC registration. We help companies launch as benefit limited liability companies in preferred states, e.g. Delaware Benefit LLC’s, and obtain the necessary foreign filing permissions in their primary places of operation. The Benefit LLC model can be a great way, particularly for small businesses, to message your values while avoiding the complexities of the benefit corporation model. In most cases you can register as a Delaware Benefit LLC and obtain an authorization form for operating in a preferred state.

Investor Due Diligence

Many investors are unfamiliar with legal aspects of Certified B Corps and Benefit Corporations. We help investors understand how these companies operate, what if any limitations pertain to investors and shareholders, and how such a model can scale in accordance with its foundational mission.

SEC GHG and Climate Change Reporting

The new SEC greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations and value chain reporting requirements obligates companies large and small to better analyze and communicate climate change impact on their finances and operations. We help companies comply with SEC rules and identify market opportunities in this new era of corporate ESG.

Stakeholder Reports

A number of jurisdictions require that benefit corporations and benefit LLC’s publicize audits of activities in furtherance of their express public benefits. We help companies draft and publish stakeholder reports that summarize their activities and satisfy relevant legal requirements.

Shareholder Notices – Benefit Conversions

Some companies launch as traditional Delaware C Corps or LLC’s, but then later decide to convert to Benefit Corporations or Benefit LLC’s for any number of business and legal reasons. State laws and governance documents govern the ways companies must officially convert to benefit entities, including proper notices to shareholders and conducting of meetings and votes. We help companies create the proper notices and obtain approvals for formal conversion.

Associated Blogs, Presentations, Publications

ArticlesBenefit Corporations, ESG & Social EnterpriseRVL Briefs
October 12, 2022

Guide to New York Benefit Corporations

Photo by Luis Dalvan from Pexels The Rockridge® Guide to New York Benefit Corporations   Wanting to know more about New York Benefit Corporations? …because you want to become a B Corporation certified by B Lab?…
ArticlesBenefit Corporations, ESG & Social EnterpriseRVL Briefs
October 12, 2022

Guide to South Carolina Benefit Corporations

  The Rockridge® Guide to South Carolina Benefit Corporations Wanting to know more about South Carolina Benefit Corporations? …because you want to become a B Corporation certified by B Lab? …because you want…
Benefit Corporations, ESG & Social EnterpriseBlockchain & Data RightsRVL News
September 28, 2022

Rockridge® Attorney Kevin Christopher Invited to World Economic Forum’s Crypto Sustainability Coalition

On September 21st, attorney Kevin Christopher attended the World Economic Forum in New York during global climate week as an invited member of the World Economic Forum's new Crypto Sustainability…
ArticlesB CorpsBenefit Corporations, ESG & Social EnterpriseRVL Briefs
June 28, 2022

U.S. Lagging on ESG, but Trends Promising Globally

Reflections on the B for Good Leaders Summit   Last week, Violaine was in Rome to join certified and aspiring B Corps, social entrepreneurs (i.e. Benefit Corporations, or as we now…
B CorpsBenefit Corporations, ESG & Social EnterpriseRVL News
June 20, 2022

Violaine Panasci to Attend B for Good Leaders Summit

Rockridge® attorney Violaine Panasci attended B for Good Leaders Summit held in Rome, Italy on June 16th and 17th. Violaine had the opportunity to meet over 600 B Corp leaders…
ArticlesBenefit Corporations, ESG & Social EnterpriseRVL Briefs
May 25, 2022

Guide to Alabama Benefit Corporations

  The Rockridge® Guide to Alabama Benefit Corporations Wanting to know more about Alabama Benefit Corporations? …because you want to become a B Corporation certified by B Lab? …because you want to lock…
Benefit Corporations, ESG & Social EnterpriseRVL News
May 5, 2022

Rockridge® Attorney Violaine Panasci to Speak at Periscope: Lunch and Learn on Social Entrepreneurship

Rockridge® attorney Violaine Panasci is presenting today alongside fellow SEA member Don Leyrer at the Periscope Lunch and Learn event on Social Entrepreneurship. This one-hour session introduces the concepts of…
Nashville skylineArticlesB CorpsBenefit Corporations, ESG & Social Enterprise
May 1, 2022

Guide to Tennessee Benefit Corporations

Photo by Shane Raynor The Rockridge® Guide to Tennessee Benefit Corporations   Wanting to know more about Tennessee Benefit Corporations? …because you want to become a B Corporation certified by…
ArticlesBenefit Corporations, ESG & Social EnterpriseRVL Briefs
April 6, 2022

Impact of the SEC’s New GHG and Climate Change Rules on Life Science Companies

Photo by Natalie Dmay from Pexels Impact of the SEC’s New Climate Change Rules on Life Science Companies On March 21, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released its long anticipated…

Lead Attorney Profiles

Kevin Christopher, kevin@rockridgelaw.com

Principal

• Advisor - Bethesda Green Hub
• Advisor - Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale
• B Corp Best For The World - 2019-2022
• Conscious Company Magazine 2019 Top 22 Business Leaders
• Real Leaders® Top 150
• SuperLawyers® Mid-South
• Yale 2050 Fellow

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Violaine Panasci, L.L.M.

Brand, Data Privacy & Regulatory Attorney

• B Corp Best For The World
• Board of Directors, French-American Chamber of Commerce
• Board of Directors, Social Enterprise Alliance
• Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP)
• Real Leaders® Top 150

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Historic James Building
735 Broad Street, STE 1001
Chattanooga, TN 37402

Nashville Entrepreneur Center
41 Peabody St.
Nashville, TN 37210
(For client and partnership meetings only)

The Yale Club
50 Vanderbilt Ave.
New York, NY 10017
(For client and partnership meetings only)

 

RVL® is a business, intellectual property, and technology firm, building today’s companies for tomorrow’s economy.