Empowering Social Entrepreneurs with Legal Support for Lasting Change

Client: GIF

In 2023, Hogan Lovells collaborated with the Growth Impact Fund (GIF), a joint venture between UnLtd, Big Issue Invest and Shift, to advance its mission of supporting underrepresented founders creating positive social or environmental impact. Through their social business practise, HL BaSE, Hogan Lovells provided over 746 hours of pro bono legal advice valued at £493,575 to the first five GIF investees.

Hogan Lovells has a longstanding record of providing pro bono legal advice to underrepresented founders and social entrepreneurs through HL BaSE. In 2023, HL BaSE provided more than 10,000 hours of advice to social businesses worth over £6,000,000. One investee was Neuropool, which works to address the unemployment crisis among autistic adults in the UK through inclusive recruitment services, helping over 200 neurodivergent professionals gain employment. HL BaSE advised Neuropool on a £300,000 investment from GIF, helping them build a community of over 12,600. HL BaSE also advised Lightning Reach, a financial support platform; DWRM, who support prisoners with access to education; Harry Specters, an award-winning chocolatier supporting young autistic individuals; and Inclusion Labs, whose digital platform supports schools improve their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.