Events

Unlike other corporate forms, benefit corporations, in addition to creating shareholder value, are characterized by three basic attributes making them uniquely different and an option that entrepreneurs and investors should consider.  Seven states including California, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Vermont and Hawaii have enacted legislation to create a for-profit, multi-stakeholder, model corporate form, and several other states including Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina have introduced similar legislation.

This briefing will address the state law requirements for benefit corporations focusing on the law in California but with the attributes of the laws in the several other states where benefit corporation laws have been enacted to date.

This program will be presented by Partner Jonathan S. Storper, the co-chair of the legal working group which drafted the benefit corporation legislation in California and chair of the Hanson Bridgett's sustainable business practice.

Topics include:

• The general and specific public benefit purposes of a benefit corporation
• Attributes of a multi-stakeholder corporate model
• How the corporation is accountable to its stakeholders and the public
• The assessment and transparency requirements of this corporate form
• How the general and specific public benefit purposes are enforced

What it Means for Businesses, Non-Profits and You

Hanson Bridgett and Full Circle Fund are teaming up to bring you an exclusive opportunity to learn from the experts about the new Benefit Corporation revolution taking place in California. Benefit Corporations are a new and innovative corporate charter, available in only seven states, allowing a company's governing board to consider social or environment objectives ahead of profits. The legal structure of a Benefit Corporation is designed to shield the board from investor lawsuits, so companies that care about more than just their bottom line now have the opportunity to do well AND do good. Hanson Bridgett Partner Jonathan Storper was instrumental in passing the new legislation which went into effect on January 1, 2012.

Moderated by Hanson Bridgett attorney and GEO Circle Co-Chair Leslie Keil, our presenters will dig into the nuts and bolts of the B-Corp designation and Benefit Corporation charters, how they differ from non-profits and other for-profits, and why this is an exciting opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors.

Don't miss your chance to find out why California Benefit Corporations and B Corp designations nationwide will have groundbreaking ramifications for the for-profit and non-profit sectors.

The Presenters:

Jonathan Storper
Partner, Sustainable Business Group Chair
Hanson Bridgett

Dermot Hikisch
Director of Business Development
B Lab

Josh Becker
General Partner, New Cycle Capital
Full Circle Fund Board Chair

Marketing Yourself and Your Company

In today's marketplace, marketing yourself and your company effectively is more important than ever. Our expert panelists will discuss how women in all stages of their careers can market themselves for potential career opportunities, both internally and externally, and what matters when marketing your company.

Moderated by: Lisa Dal Gallo, Partner, Hanson Bridgett

Panelists:
Ann Ludwig, Medical Facilities Development Program Manager, Alameda County GSA
Jody Quinton, Regional Manager, DPR Construction
Carolyn Kenney, President, Kenney and Associates
Debra Leifer, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Page & Turnbull

Program: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Networking Reception: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Cost: $45 

Additional Information: Contact Lisa Dal Gallo or Brandi Hewlett

Sponsored by Gensler

How to Grow Your Company (and what to do once you reach scale)

Purchasing office supplies for businesses and creating award winning toys: what might two businesses teach us about social impact? Growth is often a pre-requisite for business success. To grow successfully, businesses need to build upon their success with current customers and grow outward from there. Mike Hannigan (CEO of Give Something Back), Daniel Grossman (Wild Planet Toys) and Scott Leonard (Indigenous Designs) will share insights from their personal experiences on leading socially responsible businesses, how they expand market share, new market opportunities, and pursue new customers. Join us for an engaging evening of innovative thinking and shared insights from three leading entrepreneurs.

Presenters:
Danny Grossman, Wild Planet Toys
Mike Hannigan, Give Something Back
Scott Leonard, Indigenous Designs

Moderator:
Teresa Pahl, Partner, Hanson Bridgett LLP

The Art and Science of Raising Capital

Speakers to be announced.