Events
Upcoming Events
Law, Innovation, and the Future of the Impact Economy featuring Deborah Burand
As the impact economy matures, the legal landscape surrounding it is both a catalyst and a constraint. From the pushback against ESG and DEI to the emergence of new financing strategies and legal structures for mission-driven enterprises, the role of law in shaping an equitable, sustainable economy is under intense scrutiny.
In this timely conversation, on Thursday, December 11 from 12:00 - 1:15 p.m., Impact Entrepreneur’s Laurie Lane-Zucker welcomes Deborah Burand, Professor of Clinical Law (emerita) at NYU School of Law and Faculty Director of the Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship. Deborah is widely recognized as one of the foremost legal minds in the field, bridging practice, policy, and pedagogy to advance the future of socially and environmentally conscious business and finance.
This Luminarias session will explore:
- The evolving role of law in building and scaling the impact economy.
- How innovative legal structures are enabling early-stage, mission-driven enterprises.
- The challenges and opportunities posed by the backlash against ESG and DEI.
- Emerging trends in catalytic capital, blended finance, and global investment strategies.
- Insights from Deborah’s career at the intersection of law, innovation, and social impact.
2026 Annual Conference on Legal Issues in Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing – in the US
The Grunin Center's next annual conference will take place June 2 and 3, 2026. Follow the Grunin Center on LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on the 2026 Annual Conference on Legal Issues in Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing – in the US.
2026 Legal Scholars & Educators Convening
This one-day convening, which will take place June 4, 2026, follows the IILWG/Grunin Center Annual Conference on Legal Issues in Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing – in the US and Beyond (June 2-3) and offers a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, share scholarship, and discuss pedagogical innovations with a community of legal scholars and educators. Follow the Grunin Center on LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on the 2026 Legal Scholars & Educators Convening.
Past Events
- 2025 Symposium on Legal Issues in Social Entrepreneurship, Impact Investing, and Sustainable Development
- Workshop: Launching and Managing Impact Investment Funds
Learn more about the CLE workshop
- Webinar: Navigating Polarization as a Legal Professional in Impact Investing
- Webinar: Exploring the Dynamics of External Counsel and In-House Counsel Collaborations in Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing: More than Scribes
- 2024 Symposium on Legal Issues in Social Entrepreneurship, Impact Investing and Sustainable Development
Learn more about the symposium
The 2024 Symposium on Legal Issues in Social Entrepreneurship, Impact Investing and Sustainable Development was co-hosted with the Journal of Law & Business.
- Webinar: The Role of Guiding Principles When Taking a Relational Contractual Approach to Impact Investing Webinar
- Webinar: Relational Contracting in Advancing Social and Environmental Impact Webinar
- Reception & Dinner Celebrating NYU Law Collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo
NYU School of Law and the Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship co-hosted a special reception and dinner (November 16, 2022) in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo, one of the leading Italian and European financial institutions. The reception and dinner celebrated their partnership in advancing global research around antitrust laws and compliance policies, impact banks, and the green and circular economy.
- Fireside Chat: Social Impact and the Law with former Rockefeller Foundation General Counsel Maria Santos Valentin and Professor Deborah Burand
Deborah Burand, professor of law, introduced Maria Santos Valentin, the Grunin Center's new Distinguished Scholar & Senior Fellow, to the NYU Law School Community. They discussed the role philanthropy plays in catalyzing impact investing and sustainable development in the US and beyond, and how lawyers are shaping these philanthropic initiatives.
- Webinar Series: Building a Legal Practice for Impact Investing
- Webinar: US Tax Reform Proposals and Potential Implications for Charitable Organizations and Impact Investing