Robert Johnson is a social impact entrepreneur who describes himself as a “lawpreneur,” which he defines as “one who engages in working adroitly in both disciplines of law and business.” He seeks to utilize his experience of over 30 years in law, business management, franchising, M&A, venture capital, and diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting—both domestically and internationally—to develop strategies to close the racial wealth gap.
Robert is the founder and Managing Partner of the Solomon Group LLC, a social impact management consulting and law firm that provides business management, social impact advisory, legal services, and private equity for minority and women entrepreneurs throughout the Diaspora. He also served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Emergent Ethos, an investment firm dedicated to transforming the world through strategic impact investments in sustainable technologies. Additionally, he served as President of Purple Flower Farms, LLC, an Emergent Ethos portfolio company focused on organic hemp cultivation and preprocessing, whose mission is to use the extraordinary properties of the hemp plant to improve the environment and community.
Robert previously served as Chief Equity Officer for Bezos Academy, where he led equity strategy for Jeff Bezos in creating free Montessori-inspired preschools in underserved communities across the country. He was also formerly the Chief Economic Inclusion Officer and General Counsel for the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, overseeing the organization’s Economic Empowerment Institute, which included the Financial Inclusion Institute, the Innovation and Technology Institute, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), StreetWise, and the Workforce Development Department.
Prior to becoming a lawpreneur, Robert was the Franchise Relations Officer and Ombudsman for McDonald’s Corporation’s Central Division. In that role, he advocated for the McDonald’s system, strengthened relationships with franchisees, resolved conflicts, and represented the Black McDonald’s Owner Operators Association.
Mr. Johnson is an expert in corporate law, social enterprise law, franchising, and venture capital, providing counsel to senior leaders on economic development both internationally and domestically.
He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law and dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics and Business Administration, and Sociology and Anthropology from Knox College.
