Publications
An Introduction to the Family Business Practice Group
We hope you will enjoy this inaugural issue of the Family Business Advisory, which is intended to inform family businesses about issues and developments in the law affecting family and closely held businesses.
Wiggin & Dana represents a wide range of family businesses. Some are large companies considering public securities offerings, and others are small, closely held firms. Regardless of the size of the family business, the need to integrate business and personal objectives into one comprehensive and cohesive plan is paramount. In response to our clients’ needs, Wiggin & Dana has established a “Family Business Practice Group ” to address the unique issues and concerns of the family business.
The Family Practice Group draws on firm lawyers whose skills are typically employed by family business clients. The lawyers in the Family Business Practice Group are particularly attuned to the issues that arise in a family business, and work closely with each other to provide legal services tailored to the needs of each family business client. Because our lawyers are experts in a wide variety of fields, we can provide services efficiently and at a very reasonable cost.
The employment and benefits lawyers are expert in all matters relating to employment, including hiring and firing employees, the use of independent contractors, compensation and benefits, personnel policies and procedures (including sexual harassment prevention and drug testing protocols), wage and hour issues and union organizing campaigns.
Wiggin & Dana’s business and tax lawyers provide planning and transactional services in every stage of development. In cooperation with estate planning lawyers, we structure appropriate shareholder buy-sell and voting agreements, employment agreements, stock options, phantom stock plans and gifting programs. Estate planning lawyers offer family businesses advice related to business succession planning, so as to provide for a successful transition of the ownership of a family business to the next generation at the least possible financial and emotional cost.