2026 Annual Conference on Legal Issues in Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing – in the US and Beyond

The 2026 Annual Conference on Legal Issues in Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing — in the US and Beyond, co-organized by the Grunin Center and the Impact Investing Legal Working Group, will take place on June 1–3, 2026, on-campus at NYU School of Law's Vanderbilt Hall (40 Washington Square South) in New York City.

The conference is expected to be attended by over 300 students, lawyers, academics, and other stakeholders from across the globe. 

This leading conference will explore salient legal, ethical, and social themes affecting the fields of social entrepreneurship and impact investing.

The program will include opportunities to learn, network, and celebrate the achievements of lawyers advancing the fields of social entrepreneurship and impact investing. 

The 2026 conference themes are: 

• Meeting the Moment: Headwinds and Opportunities for Achieving Mission 
• Structuring Capital for Impact: Financing Innovation and Scale
• Rethinking Ownership: Collective Control of Assets for Social Impact
• Building Career and Community

The Career and Community theme is dedicated to the professional development, well-being, and long-term growth of practitioners and scholars working in impact investing, social enterprise, and purpose-driven organizations. Distinct from the substantive legal and market-focused themes, this theme creates space for reflection, skill-building, and candid conversation about career pathways, leadership, and identity in a rapidly evolving field. Sessions explore the human side of impact lawyering, from navigating career transitions and leadership roles, to developing new competencies in technology, design, and systems thinking, to sustaining purpose, resilience, and community over time. The theme emphasizes practical tools, peer learning, and intergenerational dialogue to help participants become more effective, grounded, and fulfilled professionals.

Visit the main Grunin Center website to register and learn about past conferences and other work the center supports.