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Family Business Melbourne - the role of the professional advisor.

Announcement posted by Harwood Andrews Lawyers 22 Mar 2010

Family business constitutions, succession planning, preservation of wealth strategies, tax advice, asset protection, dispute resolution and mediations – help is at hand.

With a level of uncertainty and volatility continuing to pervade the economic environment, businesses in all sectors are more than ever seeking advice on the most effective ways to identify and manage risk. Whilst every business faces challenges a family business has the added unique pressures of having to balance two value systems when decision making. Which comes first - the family or the business?

The legal profession is learning to appreciate that special skills and sensitivities are required to serve family business clients. Harwood Andrews Lawyers are passionate about understanding the challenges faced by family business and assisting them to achieve successful outcomes. They have two principals, Dan Simmonds and Liz Guerra-Stolfa, who have many years’ experience practising in this area and have undertaken extensive training to become accredited family business advisors. Family Business Australia (FBA) is the peak body for family and private business in Australia and offers the advisor accreditation program.


Dan
and Liz enjoy the challenges and the rewards of working as an integral part of their clients’ family businesses and are called upon regularly to provide trusted advice on anything from business succession, to mediating family disputes.

They find that when working with family business things may not always follow the laws of logic. Dan and Liz understand that emotions and family dynamics can play a major role in clouding business issues and this is where their role as independent trusted advisors can be vital to the business to ensure that the goals of the business and the family members are truly aligned and the business is in the best position to achieve its full potential.

Succession planning and asset protection are just some examples of issues that may need to be addressed by a family business. These require that the advisor be aware of several dynamics including the emotions of multi generational relationships and the overall vision of the business.

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If you would like further information about Harwood Andrews Lawyers or our family business services please contact us on 03 5225 5225.