About ESELA

ESELA is a global network with a European focus.

We are an international community of people who are reshaping legal systems and practice for good.

Our network of lawyers, advisors, academics and entrepreneurs is working to create a sustainable economy that promotes positive social impact. We are interested in social impact law, applied to social enterprise, impact investing, profit with purpose business, social procurement, not for profits, and co-operatives and mutuals.

Our aim is to promote a better understanding of the law in these practice areas, and to support the development and growth of social impact law for the benefit of society as a whole.

Our members range from law firms and academic institutions to specialist individuals.

In April 2013, the European Commission asked the consultants ICF and the UK law firm Bates Wells to undertake a study to map the shape and nature of social enterprise activity in 29 European countries as part of its flagship ‘Social Business Initiative’.

The idea of Legal Network for Social Impact developed naturally from the mapping study, as it became clear that no such network of experts existed. At a roundtable event hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels in January 2015, it was agreed that ESELA should be established.

Our current board members are Luke Fletcher (President), Roberto Randazzo (President-Elect), Julie Wynne (Vice President-Elect), Marleen Denef, Anne Contreras, Alissa Pelatan, and Katerina Hadzi-Miceva. The board are experts in social impact law from the UK, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Macedonia respectively.

ESELA was originally named the ‘European Social Enterprise Law Association’.

In March 2017, the decision was taken that the scope of interest of ESELA should be expanded to include the following:

• Social enterprise
• Not for profits
• Co-operatives and mutuals
• Impact investing
• Profit with purpose business
• Social procurement

In November 2018, ESELA changed its name to ‘ESELA -The Legal Network for Social Impact’ to more closely reflect the expertise of its network. For full details, click here.