Families in business

A must-attend event for all practitioners acting for UK and international families that own businesses facing multiple challenges ranging from next generation succession to an ever-changing tax landscape. In this collaborative session, practitioners will be taken through an expansive case study inspired by real-world situations of business families covering the types of modern issues they are encountering, identifying practical and workable strategies to dealing with them, and how practitioners can and must adopt a holistic approach when advising this unique profile of clients.

Alfred Liu TEP

Alfred advises high net worth individuals and families, family offices and fiduciaries on a range of private wealth matters, often where there are international and multigenerational complexities. Valued for seeing things from his client’s perspective, he seeks to exceed his clients’ expectations and prides himself on his empathy, accessibility and user-friendly ways to communicate complex issues. Described as ‘very hard working and reliable’ Legal 500 (2024), Alfred always ensures his clients based in the UK and across the world are kept fully informed and regularly updated with practical and commercial advice. Noted as a Rising Star in The Legal 500, he is also a committee member for STEP’s Business Families Global Special Interest Group.

Ellie Milner TEP

Ellie specialises in advising clients in relation to Wills, estate planning, business succession and their personal tax position. She acts for individuals and families, in particular clients with business interests or agricultural assets. Ellie advises on tax efficient Wills and trusts, and has particular expertise in incorporating both onshore and offshore Family Investment Companies (FICs). llie is a member of the Society for Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP), and also of the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT). She is described inLegal 500as “professional, hard working and knowledgeable”, and the private client team is recommended generally for “complex high net worth cases”.

This session will focus on five key areas :

1. UK tax planning: an update on the proposed reforms to inheritance tax Business Property Relief (BPR) and Agricultural Property Relief (APR).

2. Planning for the “3Ds”: death, disputes and divorce.

3. Business ownership and management transitions and exits: structuring strategies.

4. International business families: complexities of cross-border planning.

5. Psychology and Communication: the importance of effective communication in family business succession and advisors understanding the family’s psychology and dynamics, including the role of Family Governance.