Family Office and Business Advisory

S&C’s family office and business advisory practice is built on decades of experience helping U.S. and international families to manage investments and family business holdings effectively and tax-efficiently while minimizing regulatory burdens.

Among firms with leading Estates & Personal practices, few, if any, can match S&C’s strengths in tax, investment management and executive compensation, among other practice areas that are increasingly critical for family offices. S&C’s lawyers cover these areas with an unusual level of coordination to provide the multidisciplinary advice that modern family offices require.

Sophisticated trusts and estates and family business succession planning, including family governance and generational transitions
Harmonizing family investment activities with tax and estate planning, liquidity needs and philanthropy
Planning for tax-efficient intergenerational transfers of stakes in public and private companies
Establishing private foundations and managing associated tax and fiduciary rules

Optimal structuring for family office management companies and fund vehicles, with a view toward tax and operational efficiency
Hiring and compensating family office personnel, including through a range of “carried interest” and other equity-based instruments and incentive awards
Information barriers and other considerations for family members who are involved in commercial asset-management businesses
Investment adviser status and family office exclusions under U.S. federal and state laws
Regulations and filing requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulators with respect to securities, commodities, derivatives, digital assets and other investments

Investments by Family Offices

Negotiating and executing investments, sales, transfers and other transactions by family office clients in:

Private funds (e.g., hedge, private equity, venture capital, credit, real estate, digital-asset and others)
Direct investments, including “angel” and other early stage investments
Public-company securities
Exchange funds and exchange-traded funds, particularly where family holdings are contributed
Professional sports franchises
High-end New York City residential real estate
Aircraft