An Incredible 2025 in Review

This year marks the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation’s 20^th anniversary! We are humbled by this milestone and grateful for the unwavering support of Lex Mundi attorneys over the past two decades. As we kick off our anniversary celebrations, we’d like to take an opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of 2025.

We’re thrilled to share that last year the Foundation matched 222 matters on behalf of 155 social entrepreneurs. Since inception, 137 Lex Mundi member firms have worked on more than 3,033 projects for well over 1,000 social entrepreneurs. These numbers underscore the extraordinary commitment of this network to making a positive impact on communities around the world.

Throughout the year, the Foundation team participated in several convenings, fostering meaningful connections with collaborators, colleagues, and clients. In the spring, Managing Director Isis Bous travelled to Oxford to attend social impact events around the Skoll World Forum. Just a few weeks later, she visited Seoul for the Schwab Foundation Summit 2025, where more than 200 social entrepreneurs and innovators convened with private and public sector leaders to build partnerships and amplify social innovation. Isis then went to New York for Climate Week and participated in events including the MIT Solve Challenge Finals, the Clinton Global Initiative 20^th Anniversary Meeting, the Newman’s Own Foundation and 100% for Purpose Roundtable, the World Economic Forum Sustainable Development Meetings, and Opportunity Collaboration events. In parallel with these convenings, the Foundation played an active role in advancing sector-wide knowledge and collaboration.

Notably, last year, Lex Mundi member firms provided critical expertise across 39 jurisdictions for a comprehensive report on the State of Social Procurement, published by the Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship and launched at the World Economic Forum Annual meeting in Davos. Isis also sat on a working group to develop Beyond Compliance: Embedding Impact through Innovative Finance, a new report from the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and SK Group’s Center for Social Value Enhancement. Finally, the Foundation launched the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Special Interest Group to provide an opportunity for pro bono professionals across the network to connect, share learnings, and discuss best practices with peers.

As we closed out 2025, the Foundation was named a Winner in two Humanitarian Action & Services categories of the 5^th Annual Anthem Awards for the second consecutive year. The Foundation was selected as a Gold Winner in the Service category alongside powerhouse organizations including World Central Kitchen, and as a Bronze Winner in the Volunteer Engagement category.

As we mark this milestone year, we are proud of what has been accomplished together and inspired by what lies ahead. With the support of Lex Mundi member firms around the world, the Foundation enters its 20th anniversary energized to deepen partnerships, expand access to pro bono legal support, and continue strengthening the social entrepreneurship ecosystem for years to come.

Planting the Seeds of Sustainable Growth in Bhutan

Mountain Hazelnuts was established with an ambitious goal: to build a company that generates long-term income for vulnerable communities in Bhutan while maintaining an ecological business model. To date, they have partnered with over eight thousand Bhutanese smallholder farmers and community groups to plant 10 million hazelnut trees on fallow and eroded slopes across the country.

Working closely with the Royal Government of Bhutan, Mountain Hazelnuts operates under a guaranteed purchase and pricing structure that removes market risk for growers and ensures a profitable crop. Each orchard site is carefully inspected for ecological impact, reinforcing the company’s commitment to responsible land restoration. This ultimately creates sustainable livelihoods that also deliver meaningful environmental benefits.

In 2022, the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation connected with Mountain Hazelnuts during a pivotal moment in their growth. At the time, the organization had a complex corporate structure that limited operational efficiency and access to funding. Deacons (Hong Kong) and Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP (Singapore) quickly offered to assist.

According to Dr. Sean Watson, CEO of Mountain Hazelnuts, “The support from Deacons and Rajah & Tann was instrumental in positioning Mountain Hazelnuts for long-term success. Their guidance through a highly complex corporate and shareholder restructuring gave investors the confidence they needed and enabled us to secure critical investment. Having advisers who understood both the legal complexity and our long-term vision made a decisive difference for the organization.”

While that work took place a few years ago, its impact continues to resonate today. Recently, Mountain Hazelnuts announced a landmark $7.9 million equity investment to expand its climate resilient farming initiatives. This funding came from Finnfund (a Team Europe member) and Mirova and was backed by the EU’s groundbreaking Carbon Sinks Guarantee (EFSD+).

The work from Deacons and Rajah & Tann has been critical to Mountain Hazelnut’s success and demonstrates how legal support can allow social impact organizations to grow, scale, and ultimately reach more people. Their assistance has led to investments that will advance climate resilient farming, expand production, and continue to bring Bhutan’s sustainably grown hazelnuts to global markets.

Legal Expertise Meets Innovation: Empowering Young Entrepreneurs Across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East

Entrepreneurs are solving some of society’s most pressing challenges on both the local and global level. Orange Corners, an initiative of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supports young entrepreneurs in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East as they build businesses that address the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As part of their programming, they offer incubation and accelerator programs that provide comprehensive training and mentorship to these innovators.

Recognizing that legal support is critical to the entrepreneurs’ success, the Orange Corners team approached the Foundation requesting assistance from Lex Mundi attorneys. Five member firms generously offered their time and expertise to the Orange Corners cohorts in their jurisdictions: Shalakany Law Office (Egypt); Bennani & Associés (Algeria); The Legal Circle (Bangladesh); Bowmans (South Africa); and Angola Legal Circle Advogados, in association with Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados (Angola).

These firms hosted masterclass sessions in Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Angola, South Africa and Bangladesh on topics ranging from intellectual property protections to understanding legalese in contracts. Many have offered continued support, and Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie (Nigeria) has also agreed to host a masterclass in 2026. The Orange Corners team noted, “Legal support helps entrepreneurs choose the right business structure, stay compliant with national and international regulations, manage risk and avoid costly mistakes. That is why we are deeply grateful for the support of the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation and its member firms, whose commitment enables our Orange Corners entrepreneurs to build strong, resilient businesses with impact at their core.”

Likewise, the attorneys appreciated the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs in their own communities. Attorneys in Angola noted, “Delivering the legal training sessions was an incredibly enriching experience for all of us, and we deeply appreciated the trust placed in our team to engage with such a dynamic and inspiring group of entrepreneurs.

As Angolans, it was particularly rewarding to share our knowledge and contribute, in our own way, to the journey of these emerging businesses who will undoubtedly help shape the future of Angola’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

We are incredibly grateful to the Lex Mundi volunteers for supporting Orange Corners in this important work. Your efforts will undoubtedly have a tremendous impact on your local communities and beyond.

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