Wrigleys Solicitors’ impact investment team reported a record-breaking year, advising on over £429 million in investments during 2023.
- The Yorkshire law firm supported 26 impactful transactions, surpassing its 2022 investment figures.
- Their team primarily advised social impact investors, charitable foundations, and community finance institutions.
- The legal practice spans debt, equity, revenue participation, and blended finance, reflecting investor appetite for socially responsible investments.
- Peter Parker of Wrigleys asserts that ESG considerations are pivotal in today’s economic and societal landscape.
Wrigleys Solicitors has solidified its position as a leader in impact investments by advising on more than £429 million in investments throughout 2023. This achievement underscores the firm’s commitment to facilitating investments that not only offer financial returns but also generate positive social and environmental impacts. The firm’s impact team actively supported 26 investment deals, each averaging over £16.5 million in value, reflecting a significant increase in both the number and total value of investments compared to the previous year.
The firm’s strategic guidance was pivotal for a diverse range of clients, including social impact investors, the investment arms of charitable foundations, community development finance institutions, enterprise funds, and credit unions. Through 2023, Wrigleys provided expertise in complex financial structures such as debt, equity, revenue participation agreements, and blended finance models. This diverse expertise indicates a growing demand among investors eager to deploy their capital in ways that benefit society.
Peter Parker, a partner at Wrigleys, attributed this success to the increased interest from investors aiming to achieve measurable social and environmental outcomes alongside financial gains. Parker noted, “The demand we continue to see demonstrates the growing appetite for investors to use their funds for good – supporting communities and those causes that really matter and generating positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return in the process. ESG is no longer just a buzzword; it sits at the heart of economic and societal prosperity.”
Furthermore, Wrigleys is affiliated with the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers, illustrating its dedication to using legal expertise to foster a green and inclusive economy. The firm is also a recognised advisor by Good Finance, an initiative aimed at improving access to social investment information for charities and social enterprises. This positions Wrigleys as not only a financial advisor but also a thought leader in the impact investment domain.
Peter Parker concluded by highlighting the varied nature of impact investing, from grants for research projects to seed funding for environmentally focused start-ups, underscoring the critical role of such investments in modern society. “Whether it’s a grant towards a research project, investment in community share or bond offers, or providing seed funding to an environmental start-up, impact investing allows people and institutions to put their money to good use – and in today’s society, that’s never been more important,” he stated.
Wrigleys Solicitors’ record-breaking year in impact investment demonstrates the burgeoning importance of socially and environmentally conscious financial practices.
