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Family businesses that continue to prosper from one generation to the next often do so because they have robust governance structures. Nevertheless, many family businesses have not given enough thought to governance. They rely too much on a carefree attitude toward issues such as succession, ownership and management, and they wait until one of...

Boards can assist with some of the particularly challenging issues family companies face. There are several different factors that should be considered as a board is created or renewed. While each family company’s situation is unique and every scenario cannot be addressed, the goal is to provide a framework of how corporate governance practic...

This Family Business Corporate Governance Series "What is a Board's Role in a Family Business?" explains how to build an effective board for your family company, and how boards can assist with some of the particularly challenging issues family companies face. This module discusses why you might want to evolve or ch...

Pitcairn and The Corporate Greenhouse have co-written a case study that validates why talent planning and business planning are equally important and interdependent. The case study discusses how Pitcairn’s CEO is transforming a 90-year-old family business into a high-performing multi‑family office with increased profitabil...

Having an entrepreneurial culture can help nurture a family legacy by providing pathways for family members to invest in new enterprises and regularly recharge the wealth for future generations. Although it may be challenging to re-energize a family, a dynamic culture of growth can flourish within a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. A family inte...

The American Tax Payer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) was passed on New Year’s Day 2013, and established the first permanentset of estate, gift and generation skipping transfer (GST) tax provisions in 12 years. Each year, the administration puts forth tax proposals that may change the current law. This article provides a quick summary of sev...

No one is comfortable discussing the day of their funeral, but taking control of that inevitable conversation and organizing a principal’s final wishes is simply the right thing to do for their family, their legacy and their enterprise. Making arrangements after the loss or, preferably, preparing an end-of-life plan in advance, involves some ...

Families with significant wealth often assume that requiring a prenuptial agreement should be expected, but frequently have questions on the impact the discussion can have on current and future family relationships. Through effective communications and careful development, a prenuptial agreement can enhance and clarify a couple’s financial re...

At some point, most families ask if they should have a family meeting, recognizing the importance of providing a forum for sharing news, concerns, opportunities, and challenges in an open and direct way. Family meetings are often seen as a great place to learn, whether the topic is investments, business, legal matters, or the family itself. Further...

As a result of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the private family trust company (PFTC) has becomie a very popular vehicle to provide not only Family Office SEC exemption but also trust administration to the ultra wealthy inter-generationally and several additional tax and non-tax advantages. This memo identifies several of ...

Bruce Golden of Accel Partners has been recognized as one of the top 100 venture capitalists in Forbes’ Midas List of tech investors. He also sits on the boards of several public and private companies. In a recent interview, he shared his perspective as both a board member and investor, and explained how communication and measurement are the ...

Giving forethought to difficult circumstances can provide important clarity that helps companies avoid worst-case scenarios. Owners can begin by being as objective as possible, treating shares and structure with respect and thinking of the next generation.

In examining the process of transitioning the ownership and management of a family business, this paper discusses pre-transition planning, considers the challenges of intergenerational ownership transfers vs. third-party sales, and proposes a framework for meeting family and business goals through the process.

Thoughtful planning before the sale of a business can yield many benefits to its owner, including ensuring the owner’s family is financially protected if something unexpected happens to the owner or the business before a sale, reducing potential family conflicts that may arise as a result of a potential sale and minimizing the impact of futur...

It has always been the case that courts could consider resources available to one spouse from a trust in deciding how to divide marital property or whether to award maintenance. However, there are trends in several states to make trusts a larger part of the process of dividing assets in a divorce. Because of these trends, it is not necessarily enou...