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Family Businesses

Legal Advice for Family Businesses


As a full-service law firm with a strong focus on private client matters, we offer comprehensive legal support to family business owners throughout every stage of their journey. Whether you are establishing a new venture, seeking guidance on managing business and family wealth, or preparing for succession or a future exit, our experienced team provides bespoke advice tailored to your unique circumstances.

We are trusted by a wide range of family business clients, assisting with both active trading enterprises and passive investments in property or other businesses. Our aim is to deliver clear, strategic legal solutions that protect your interests and support the long-term success and continuity of your family enterprise.

Max Baird-Smith

Here to support

Once the entity is established, we provide ongoing support including:

  • Acting as a trustee, company director and/or company secretary;
  • Administering trusts and companies to ensure they are legally and tax compliant;
  • Advising on optimum tax and estate planning structuring for your family and working with you on long term succession planning (notably the involvement of next generations);
  • Making, administering and exiting investments;
  • Providing oversight of the business including:
  • liaising with investment advisors and carrying out related tax reporting;
  • overseeing and administering family wealth; and
  • coordinating third party advice, for example international legal and accountancy advice.

Once the entity is established, we provide ongoing support including:

  • Acting as a trustee, company director and/or company secretary;
  • Administering trusts and companies to ensure they are legally and tax compliant;
  • Advising on optimum tax and estate planning structuring for your family and working with you on long term succession planning (notably the involvement of next generations);
  • Making, administering and exiting investments;
  • Providing oversight of the business including:
  • liaising with investment advisors and carrying out related tax reporting;
  • overseeing and administering family wealth; and
  • coordinating third party advice, for example international legal and accountancy advice.

The sale of a business is often a key part of a business founder’s long term aim and is a major event in a business’ life cycle.
Planning for an exit starts well before a purchaser is found and brings with it a host of issues which may not have previously been considered.
Our work with shareholders incudes:

  • Advising on the structuring options available prior to exit, including tax and succession planning optimisation for shareholders;
  • Establishing trusts to hold sale proceeds;
  • Preparing the business for sale; and
  • Negotiating and advising on the terms of the sale and the sale documentation.

recent insights

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Consequences for family businesses of the changes made to Business Property Relief in the Autumn Budget

As part of the 2024 Autumn Budget, the Government announced changes to Business Property Relief (...
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Tips for achieving a successful transfer of a family business to the next generation

You might expect that transferring a family business to the next generation will be straightforward,...
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Election year: Considerations for family business owners

With the UK general election likely to be held later this year and rival political parties jockeying...
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Your family business: the goose that lays the golden eggs

When entrepreneurs and business owners divorce, what happens to the family business? To end our cel...
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Creating a succession plan for a family business

Partners Frederick Bjorn and Howard Taylor have shared some essential advice for family business own...
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What core challenges do families face when succession planning?

Partner in our Private Client Team Frederick Bjorn discusses the challenges of succession planning a...
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How Do I Create a Succession Plan for a Family Business?

Partner in our Private Client Team Frederick Bjorn gives invaluable advice for wealthy families lo...
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Inheritance tax (IHT): protecting your family business – Frederick Bjorn and Clare Hetherington for Campden FB

Milestones in the life of a family business can present both opportunities and risks. Partner Freder...
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When and how should I introduce my children into the family business? Frederick Bjorn for ThoughtLeaders4 Private Client

Private Wealth expert Frederick Bjorn‘s article ‘Introducing the next generation and ke...
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Planning for family businesses

Succession planning and wealth preservation are key concerns for family businesses, particularly whe...
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How Do I Pass My Business To My Family In A Tax Efficient Way?

Succession, estate planning and wealth preservation are key concerns for family businesses, particul...
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