We assisted a family in efficient structuring of the family's business activities in the US and the UK as well as their family charitable foundation. The unique nature of our US team based in London enabled us to provide both the UK and US advice on the structuring and charitable foundation under one roof.

Assisted a UK based family whose business is in the second/third generation on creation of wealth planning structures, including family limited partnerships, primarily for the purposes of enabling the elder generation to pass on shares in the family business to the younger generation without passing on complete control of the business until such time as the younger generation had proved their credentials.

We were instructed by this family, consisting of several members spanning two generations, in relation to setting up a private trust company structure (PTC). The PTC acts as a trustee of a master trust to hold the family office, family business and family investment entity. The beneficiaries of the master trust were a series of "feeder" trusts established for the benefit of each of the family members and their respective families together with a number of charitable entities. In addition, we advised the family on establishing a sophisticated governance structure, including a family council and family constitution.

When multiple generations of a family are involved in a business together, the issues can become complex. Withers has a strong track record in this area so when a family-owned business approached us, we were able to address their needs. We helped with inheritance tax planning for the senior generation as well as the separation of assets between the three generations involved. The planning included reclassifying shares, paying a dividend and a de-merger of the business.

Providing advice to the trustees and family members who own and run the estate on all tax and structuring matters, including succession planning. Recently, we advised on the structuring for the sale of land for development both from a tax and planning perspective. We also created a new LLP to own and run the estate, to help achieve the family's aims in involving family members in decision-making and succession planning.

We acted for the son of a deceased German businessman who was entitled to a share of a cross-border estate worth in excess of £35m. The case raised complex conflict of law issues over the deceased's Will and arguments from some of the heirs that the son had no entitlement. We co-ordinated simultaneous proceedings in England and Germany and the case was ultimately settled out of court.

We represented a Swiss-based family office in a corporate control contest involving a California-based US$500 million private company in the coatings business. The company has an independent Board of Directors and is owned by three significant minority owners and widely dispersed current and former employees. Our work involved M&A, corporate governance, finance, complex contracts, tax and offensive corporate litigation. We drew on our New Haven, Greenwich and Los Angeles lawyers and implemented a partial contingent billing arrangement.

Advised clients with cross-border interests in relation to the construction of private trust company structures, which effectively allowed for family business succession planning, cost reduction and greater control over certain trust decisions and tax minimization in the jurisdiction of domicile and internationally.

We successfully represented a UK company over a complex and highly litigious dispute arising out of a family business. Spanning over many years, there were findings of professional negligence against our client's former solicitors and findings of forgery against one of the respondents. Various teams across our firm worked on this case including corporate, trusts and litigation to fully service our clients needs under one roof.

Assisted the majority shareholder of one of the most prestigious Italian wine producers with the planning and restructuring of their Group, which entails corporate governance and share ownership aspects, as well as an inheritance perspective. There are considerable real assets involved. Our advice focuses mainly on the drafting and implementing of a framework agreement and ancillary documents, such as a complex shareholders agreement

Assisted a family-owned group leader in the collection and processing of grains and oil seeds for foods, animal feeds and industrial use with the reorganisation of the parent company and its Italian and foreign subsidiaries as well as on a complex project related to the generational transition of the group ownership and governance, which comprises several company, tax and inheritance law aspects. The project entailed the intra group transfer of a major real estate asset and a cross border de-merger of two Romanian subsidiaries.

Assisted the family of one of the founders of an important Italian group which operates in the field of complex infrastructure works, both road and railways, in planning the transfer of the Group – which is still exclusively in their hands – to their children. The corporate and private client team worked together to create a wealth planning solution which takes into account the complex needs of a family business whose revenues are worth over €1 billion. The project also includes the assistance with the relocation of some family members to Switzerland and the incorporation of a Swiss company to provide consultancy services to the Group.

Assisted the family of one of the founders of an important Italian group which operates in the field of complex infrastructure works, both road and railways, in planning the transfer of the Group – which is still exclusively in their hands – to their children. The corporate and private client team worked together to create a wealth planning solution which takes into account the complex needs of a family business whose revenues are worth over €1 billion. The project also includes the assistance with the relocation of some family members to Switzerland and the incorporation of a Swiss company to provide consultancy services to the Group.

Assisted the top management of a Group, an Italian leader in designing, installing, operating and maintaining complex technological systems for public and private buildings, on the main tax aspects concerning the remuneration of the managers/directors also through the use of complex inter-company mechanisms. We also advised the shareholders of the Holding company controlling the group in planning the incorporation of their respective family holding entities (e.g., companies, trusts) with a view to the transfer of substantial shareholdings to their descendants. <br /> <br /> The solution also included sophisticated corporate governance instruments, the review of cross-border tax issues as well as the planning for the setting up of foreign trusts.

Assisted a fashion conglomerate run by a family group in the planning of intergenerational ownership transfer as well as on several corporate governance issues. This involves a strong element of corporate governance in a complex scenario.