Paul Ramsay Foundation and Centre for Social Finance Law collaborate on Australian Guide to Legal Vehicles

The Centre for Social Finance Law and Paul Ramsay Foundation today launched an introductory guide to legal vehicles in Australia for purpose-driven business and investment.

Australia’s social entrepreneurs and impact investors play a critical role in addressing societal and environmental issues and driving positive change. However, navigating the legal landscape can be daunting, particularly for newcomers and those with limited resources.

Setting up and funding a purpose-driven business is made more complex by the way purpose and profit are separated under Australian law. There is no legal entity designed to combine them. From a legal point of view purpose and profit are at best fellow travellers and more often strange bedfellows.

This makes legal structuring a critical early consideration. But it can be hard for those setting up and running a purpose-driven business, and for their financial supporters – whether investors or grant makers – to find out what their options are.

The Centre for Social Finance Law and Paul Ramsay Foundation have prepared this Guide to fill that gap with the aim of fostering innovation and sustainability within the sector.