Family
Businesses – We most often work with complex enterprises that have been in the same family for more than one generation. They may be led currently by partnerships of siblings or cousins, or planning a transition to such a partnership. Some are privately held, while others are publicly traded and family-controlled.
Family Offices –
We advise clients on organizing and managing their family office. Sometimes the family office is a stand-alone structure that oversees collectively-owned assets (such as real estate or investment portfolios) or provides legal, financial, investment, security, and taxation services for family members. In more complex cases, the office is closely tied to a family business, a family foundation, trusts, and similar structures, requiring coordinated planning.
Family Foundations –
Family foundations, too, are often an outgrowth of business ownership and tax planning as well as the family’s desire to use wealth for the benefit of society. We assist family foundations in strengthening their governance structures and processes, and developing leadership for continuity.
Franchise
and Dealer Networks – Many large manufacturers have networks of franchisees and dealers that are family businesses. LGA designs educational and consulting programs for the dealership-owning families about leadership and succession. We also advise both the dealers and the manufacturers on managing their relationship for mutual benefit.
Educational Institutions –
We advise universities on organizing executive education programs for family business owners and in designing courses and research programs for undergraduate and graduate curricula.
Professional Organizations and Advocacy Groups –
We organize seminars with colleague firms in financial services for their client families, and for the service providers themselves about working with business-owning families. We frequently assist law firms, financial advisors, bankers, executive recruiters, wealth management consultants, and accounting firms to better understand and serve their family clients. We also engage in policy analysis on issues affecting family enterprise and continuity.
