Family Business

Our lawyers understand that running a family business can be a rewarding experience.  We recognise that family businesses have different drivers and pressures than other businesses.  Our team understands the additional complexities of family business which flow from the interplay between family, management and ownership.

Family businesses are often uniquely structured with a combination of private companies, family trusts and self-managed superannuation funds owning the business assets. That means, when it comes to your family business, legal advice must take into account the complex web of laws which regulate the structure, your commercial objectives and family dynamics as well as your personal and inter-generational family business succession objectives.

Our family business specialists work with you to make sure the right legal structures are in place for your family. We can help you minimise the chances of a dispute about ownership or control so that your business can continue to focus on achieving its objectives.

We can:

• Advise, document and implement an inter-generational family business succession plan which meets your family's succession and estate planning objectives in an asset protective and tax effective manner.

• Advise you on legal structures, including private companies, partnerships, trusts and self-managed superannuation funds to structure your business in an asset protective and tax effective manner.

• Advise you on your duties and responsibilities as a trustee or a board member or shareholder in a family-run company.

• Help you avoid disputes about control and ownership by making sure your intentions are known and that the future of the company is documented.

• Help you resolve family disputes over the direction of the business through alternative dispute resolution.

• Represent you in court if a dispute over a family business escalates.

• Assist with employment and work, health & safety issues.

• Assist with property acquisitions and developments.

• Establish family charity foundations.