We are pleased to invite you to the upcoming Webinar on ELI's European Enterprise Foundation Model Law, which will take place on 29 January 2026, from 12:30-14:00 CET.  

Enterprise foundations, owners of companies such as Bosch, Inter IKEA, Novo Nordisk, Rolex and La Caixa, play a major role in Europe’s long-term, responsible business ownership. Yet they are regulated very differently across Europe. The project’s primary objective was to develop a model law to facilitate the establishment and governance of enterprise foundations. Its overarching aim is to promote well-governed enterprise foundations that contribute to responsible ownership and enhance the competitiveness of businesses in Europe and beyond. The Model Law is designed to help policymakers at both national and European levels to make informed decisions about the legal frameworks available to them.

It sets out comprehensive rules on key matters, including definitions, formation and permissible purposes, registration procedures, amendments to foundation purpose, governance structures, audit and transparency requirements, and oversight by a competent authority.  In addition, the Proposal includes best-practices recommendations on foundation governance and guiding principles for the taxation of enterprise foundations. The webinar will feature the Reporters of the Model Law alongside external speakers offering complementary perspectives. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide input.

Confirmed speakers:

• Anne Birgitte Gammeljord (ELI Treasurer; Danish Supreme Court Lawyer; Former President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe)
• Anne Sanders (ELI Reporter; Chair for Civil Law, Company Law and Judicial Studies, University of Bielefeld; Co-director of the Institute for Family Businesses)
• Steen Thomsen (ELI Reporter; Novo Nordisk Foundation Professor, Center for Corporate Governance, Copenhagen Business School)
• Michelle Davies (Group General Counsel, Company Secretary & Chief Social Purpose Officer at Lloyd’s Register Group)
• Philip Yun (Co-President and Co-CEO of Commonwealth Club World Affairs; Steering Committee Chair of the Global Philanthropy Forum)

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