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In an uncertain economic environment, what can family offices do to bridge M&A valuation gaps with sellers? In this 10-minute interview with Brian Lucareli, Director of Foley Private Client Services (PCS) and Arthur Vorbrodt, Co-chair of the Family Offices group, learn about the pros and cons of utilizing rollover equity, earnout payments, and/or a combination thereof, and how a family office may utilize these contingent consideration mechanics, as tools to bridge M&A transaction valuation gaps with sellers.

By most measures, the start of the first quarter of 2025 painted a picture of positive economic momentum and optimism in the U.S. Growth remained solid. Unemployment hovered near 60-year lows. Real wages were rising. Corporate earnings were on track for double-digit growth. And then it turned from optimism to uncertainty to sheer panic with the Trump administration surprising markets with a sweeping set of tariffs. By quarter’s end, the tariffs have ignited fears of global trade war, surging inflation, and a material growth slowdown.

Effectively transitioning a business to the next generation of owners through a business succession plan that incorporates estate tax planning will result in the most value being retained by the owners and their families. Whether the business is entirely family owned or has unrelated owners, each scenario comes with its own complications but with considerable overlap in planning opportunities.

For many art collectors, the allure of acquiring and displaying art often overshadows the effort required to manage it properly and plan for its eventual disposition. After all, upon death, you can’t take it with you. Estate planning for art collectors involves navigating a complex landscape of valuation, tax, and management issues. Without a strategic approach, the beauty hanging on your walls might be at risk of becoming entangled in tax and legal concerns. So, it’s time to master the art of estate planning so your collection remains a source of pride and prosperity for generations.

At every stage, a Family Office needs the right team, governance, and processes in place to continue growing. With this Family Office Maturity Model that identifies the five different stages—embedded, early stage, developed, professionalized, and mature—you can assess areas for improvement and determine the right steps to progress. By understanding these stages, you will be in a better position to make informed decisions about governance, operations, and team development for your Family Office.

Going into the year 2025, the insurance industry faces a landscape marked by complexity and uncertainty. In this summary, learn more about the top-of-mind insurance issues and what to expect in the areas of digital disruption, GenAI, reinsurance trends, emerging risks, economic trends, regulatory updates, evolving tax roles and responsibilities, and more.

Given the impact of the back-and-forth tariffs and the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the risks of creating a bout of inflation or a bout of economic slowdown (or both) are very real. The uncertainty, market gyrations, and indications of a double-digit market correction at some point during 2025 are also creating tremendous angst. Instead of trying to dodge any market volatility and drawdowns, investors should stay the course. There are mitigating factors to the headwinds of the tariffs and DOGE. There will eventually be clarity.

Enhancing risk management is no longer optional but essential when the global landscape is fraught with uncertainties and disruptions that include changing business dynamics, shifting trade tensions, a tough tariff environment, geopolitical conflicts, and a volatile economic landscape. Building resilience across all aspects of the business is imperative now and for the long-term.

With the new administration in the U.S. and its focus on various parts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the TCJA) and the estate tax, changes are expected amid the balancing of competing considerations. In this 10-minute interview, Jason Kohout, partner and co-chair of the Family Offices group at Foley & Lardner, and John Strom, federal lobbyist and member of Foley & Lardner’s Public Policy & Government Relations group discuss the key parts of the TCJA and whether the TCJA’s doubled estate and gift tax exemption will be extended and potentially made permanent.

Amid an increasingly volatile macroeconomic and geopolitical landscape, the private equity (PE) sector faces mounting challenges across the deal lifecycle—from fundraising to deal execution and exits. In turn, PE sponsors are seeking strategies to extract increased value from portfolio companies beyond the traditional cost cutting exercises. One underutilized and effective strategy is to optimize a portfolio company’s cash flows to enhance overall business performance, create operational value, and unlock substantial returns.