Inside the Family Business: Law and Legacy

Abstract

Family enterprises play a vital role in the U.S. economy, but they face unique internal challenges because their owners must reconcile family and business perspectives. Using case studies to illustrate, Professor Means will examine why some family firms succeed across generations while others fail. He will explain how attorneys can work with family owners to establish governance structures that integrate corporate law, family law, and estate planning considerations. For family businesses, the goal is to achieve a competitive edge in the marketplace while also safeguarding the values that make business ownership worthwhile