Private Business and Private Clients

Many family businesses have learned that a little structure can be extremely helpful when the time comes to discuss sensitive issues such as ownership of shares, rights and responsibilities, the competence of family-member managers and agreeing on a strategy that is best for both the business and the family.

We address family business governance from a holistic perspective. From family constitutions to family councils, boards of directors to family and non-family managers, we can help family businesses improve their governance and thereby preserve family harmony, setting the stage for the commercial success they strive for.

We can assist by reviewing the tax and legal implications of the current ownership structure of your family business, both at the company and personal level, and can advise on optimising holding structures that consider the objectives of the family, such as succession, asset segregation, protection, control, flexibility, wealth preservation and simplicity.

We advise on establishing family offices, trusts, private trust companies, foundations and private or family investment companies alongside other legal structures in relevant jurisdictions.

In particular, we also recognise that, whilst other companies measure their success in quarters, family businesses measure their success in generations. In transferring ownership of a family business to the next generation, the family may face tax and legal obstacles. The team can help to identify these early on, manage the family through them and help them plan ahead to facilitate a tax efficient transition of the business that is legally smooth and robust.