Recommendations
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Recognised as a Key Lawyer in charity law
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Luke Fletcher is 'Genuinely excellent'
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Luke is 'pragmatic and reasoned and particularly likeable'
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Luke gives 'excellent advice and guidance'
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Luke ‘provides straightforward advice on the most complex matters’
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Luke Fletcher is a key contact for social finance and charities investing.
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Developed the test for B Corp certification in the UK
Experience
I co-lead the firm’s multi-disciplinary Impact Economy practice, which advises clients seeking to have a positive social impact through their business and other activities.
Within the Impact Economy practice, I lead a team of lawyers whose collective practice spans charity, social enterprise, responsible business and impact investing.
I regularly advise on the boundaries and interplay between the worlds of charity and business. My work often involves structuring relationships appropriately where charities are interacting with businesses or operating in market contexts.
Clients vary from international NGOs, household name charities, Governments, major corporates and investment banks, to purpose driven businesses, impact investors, impact entrepreneurs and philanthropists.
Areas of focus include
- Advising boards and senior executives in relation to governance matters
- Providing strategic legal advice for clients engaged in complex negotiations
- Designing new and innovative legal and constitutional structures
- Advising on difficult, complex or unusual charity registrations
I have worked on many of the most significant developments in the growing Impact Economy, including:
- The structuring of key institutions such as Big Society Capital and Social Finance
- Advising the European Commission on the law and regulation of social enterprise across Europe
- Working in Government on the design of social investment tax relief
- Creating governance principles for community interest companies which are endorsed by the CIC Regulator
- Making the argument for the new statutory social investment power for charities
- Creating the official model documents and guidance on social impact bonds
- Developing the legal and governance requirements for B Corps
- Designing Purposely to help businesses to embed purpose in different ways
Highlights
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I advised a high profile multinational firm on its adoption of “profit with purpose” in its constitution and governance
This included advising on the legal, regulatory and risk implications for its directors, shareholders and international subsidiaries
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I advised the Home Office on the structure of the £200m Youth Endowment Fund
This included advice on choice of legal form, funding terms and protection of funds
- I advised a consortium of institutional investors who are seeking a new landmark judgment on responsible investment in the light of the climate emergency
- I advised on the formation and governance of the Grenfell Foundation to provide long term support to the survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire and those bereaved
- I advised DCMS on the legal structure of Fair4All, a new entity which will use funds received from dormant accounts to finance businesses addressing financial inclusion
- I advised the OECD on the legal aspects of the development of social enterprise ecosystems
- I advised the Government Inclusive Economy Unit on governance options for inclusive and purpose driven businesses
- I advised LifeArc on the monetisation of its royalty interest in a blockbuster drug
- I advised on the reorganisation of the Church Investors Group and its establishment as a charity
- I advised the Council of the Inns of Court in relation to its registration as a charity and its charitable activities
- I advised on the reorganisation of a leading independent school subject to a complex Charity Commission statutory inquiry
- I advised an influential think tank on a high profile Charity Commission regulatory review
- I worked on developing the legal requirements for B Corps in the UK
- I advised the Cabinet Office and others on the development of social impact bonds
- I advised the City of London on its social investment strategy and approach
- I created new financing instruments and new investment funds for social impact
- I advised on the establishment and operations of credit unions and CDFIs
- I advised on equity and debt capital raising by charities and social enterprises
- I advised charitable foundations on investment activity
- I advised on charity formation, trading and mergers
- I advised on constitutional and governance issues
Areas of expertise:
Sectors
Environment & Sustainability
Impact Businesses
Qualifications and career
- Clifford Chance New York, scholarship placement, 2002
- University of Nottingham, LLB Law with American Law, 2003
- Trainee solicitor at White & Case, 2005
- Admitted as a solicitor at Bates Wells, 2007
- Secondments to the Social Investment Team at the Cabinet Office, 2011-13
- Partner at Bates Wells, 2013
Pro bono, memberships, and appointments
- Co-founder of ESELA – The Legal Network for Social Impact
- Board Member of B Lab UK and co-author of the English law requirements for B Corps
- Member of the Advisory Council of the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law
- Member of the British Academy’s Steering Group on ‘The Future of the Corporation’
- Member of the Advisory Board of Resurgo Ventures
- Member of the CIC Regulator’s Technical Panel
- 15 years’ of board experience in a wide variety of roles
Insights
