Social Enterprise

Stephen Phillips, Social Enterprise
We’ve been at the forefront of virtually every new development in legal models that has emerged within the social enterprise sector. This includes models for equity investment and joint ventures, new approaches to mergers and consortium working, partnerships with the public and private sectors, and new legal entities (CICs, LLPs and SCIOs). And, of course, supporting social enterprises in taking up new and expanding opportunities - in delivery of public services, transfers of assets from the public sector, community right-to-buy, and community renewables.

Open, responsive & collaborative approach

This is a sector where every group, and every new project, has its own set of objectives and priorities. Our approach to each new assignment involves close engagement with the clients - clearly identifying needs and aspirations, and building up a legal model that is closely attuned to their specific requirements.

Clients

Our client base includes virtually all of the major third sector umbrella/support organisations in Scotland - including Community Enterprise in Scotland, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Social Firms Scotland, Development Trusts Association (Scotland), Community Energy Scotland and Co-operative Development Scotland. Some of that work involves flagship projects, which point the way for others to follow; in other cases, we help to develop constitutions and guidance notes which serve as a resource across Scotland.

We also act for a vast number of individual organisations - from major employment/training providers such as The Wise Group, to small-scale organisations doing valuable work at local level - spanning virtually every segment within the social enterprise field.

Passionate

We are passionate about the social enterprise sector and its huge potential. And we are committed to providing the sector with the highest quality of legal advice. Increasingly, the challenges of the current environment are causing social enterprises to explore new ways of working. In fact, Burness is ideally placed to provide legal support in responding to these new challenges.