RPCK Rastegar Panchal, P.C. (RPCK) has established an annual, year-long social impact fellowship, designed to bring in talented young professionals to conduct research in the burgeoning impact investment field.
Firm founder Chintan Panchal stated: “We are excited about the fellowship on so many levels — This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the growing body of scholarship in this field, where so many of our clients have been leading the way for years. This research will be able to draw upon the firm’s deep transactional experience with multiple bottom line transactions, and allow for some of the brightest young minds to interact with a number of the most innovative and experienced investors around.”
This year’s fellowship recipient, Gayatri Kawlra, emerged from a competitive selection process and was chosen as the firm’s first Social Impact Fellow. She recently completed work for the Capital Markets Global Summit at the United Nations, and her Master’s Degree from Columbia University in Global Thought. Gayatri also has extensive experience working with international NGOs such as Aide et Action in India as well as experience in impact investing at a venture capital firm, Uberis Capital in London, supporting the growth of the social enterprise sector in South East Asia. Gayatri’s research will support the broader thesis that significant and a lasting impact can be achieved when social impact and rational economic behavior are well aligned. Her preliminary focus will be on five specialty areas: education, food & agriculture, women’s rights, climate change, and clean energy. She anticipates that end of year deliverables will include comparative case studies, an academic article, and potentially a broader manual/guide to impact investing.
“I’m excited to be working with the team here at RPCK, developing my research in impact investing at a law firm is a very special opportunity and I am sure working with the firms clients and peers will prove to be hugely expansive for shaping a career in the field!”
Since its founding in 2010, RPCK has worked with leading family offices, investment funds, visionary investors, and innovative entrepreneurs to build and scale a broad range of high growth/high impact enterprises, both in the US and abroad. Follow this link to learn more about our Social Impact Investing practice.