Private Wealth Structuring & Succession Framework

Overview

A third-generation family office with diversified holdings spanning real estate, private equity, and operating businesses across six jurisdictions engaged us to design a succession framework. The founding generation sought to transition ownership to twelve family members across two branches, each with differing levels of involvement and divergent preferences regarding future involvement. The existing structure lacked formal governance mechanisms, creating ambiguity around decision-making authority and wealth distribution that threatened family cohesion.

Approach

We began by facilitating a comprehensive family governance assessment, working with all twelve family members to understand individual objectives, risk tolerances, and visions for their ongoing involvement. This process revealed three distinct stakeholder groups: active operators seeking expanded authority, passive investors prioritising wealth preservation, and the founding generation focused on legacy protection.

Based on this assessment, we designed a dual-track ownership framework separating economic interests from management participation. Active family members received operating equity with governance rights, while passive interests were housed in a protected holding structure with defined distribution mechanisms. We established a Family Council to coordinate strategic decisions, an Advisory Board with independent external perspectives, and clear succession protocols for each governance body.

Legal documentation was developed in coordination with counsel across all six jurisdictions, ensuring the framework accommodated regulatory requirements while maintaining family-wide consistency. We also designed an Next Generation Development Programme to prepare younger family members for future governance responsibilities.