Why are business families important?   Family businesses are an essential part of the backbone of the UK economy.  They produce more than 30% of the national gross domestic product and account for more than 40% of private sector employment, which equates to 9.5 million jobs.  Sixty five percent of the 4.5 million private sector enterprises in the United Kingdom last year contributed £73 billion in taxes - 15% of the total tax revenue.  Finally, family firms have a turnover of more than £1 trillion - over double that of the private equity sector - and employ more people than all the

feel that your client and their partner/family might just benefit from someone independent coming in to knock heads together and keep them all safely on track. If you have any thoughts or questions about whether a mediation could help a client, please contact me in confidence. Globe Law and Business recently published the STEP Handbook Business Families and Family Businesses, a comprehensive guide for practitioners who advise business families and their professional advisers. Andrew co-wrote the chapter ‘Dealing with Conflict’ with Mark Lindley of Boodle Hatfield. For further details and to contact Andrew, please go to http://hildebrandmediation …

right term is, but for the right dispute it might be worth explaining it to a prospective client as ‘business marriage guidance’. Less costly or destructive than divorce proceedings and designed specifically to help someone separate inexpensively without destroying themselves or their business. Or even to help them salvage their relationship and establish what changes are needed to make the relationship work better. But these are just my thoughts on what we could do differently. What do you think? Globe Law and Business recently published the STEP Handbook Business Families and Family Businesses, a comprehensive guide for practitioners who advise …

Partnerships and family businesses often face the same challenges other businesses face but, because a different sort of personal relationship exists in a partnership or a family business, different considerations apply, especially when things go wrong. There’s a quintessential difference. In a business dispute there may be a relationship at stake. In a partnership or a family business, it is always at stake – and the same is invariably true with private client disputes. That means that even a straightforward commercial dispute is likely to involve an additional layer of complication. The dispute may be about business or legal issues …

Family businesses are often perceived as organisations that are stuck in the past and reluctant to take risks. Contrary to popular belief, many of these firms demonstrate a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that enables them to capture opportunities in today’s rapidly changing landscape. However, it’s not all plain sailing. One of the key aspects of running a successful family-run business – or any business – is to keep on top of the latest industry developments. In early 2018, Britain’s oldest publishers of traditional postcards, closed after almost 140 years.  J. Salmon had been passed down through five …

… Managing the balance between measured reaction and overreaction will be important. Not all businesses will be as exposed as others. An analytical approach to risks is essential. Risks to the market in which the business operates, risks to its customers and their ability to pay, and risks to suppliers and their ability to maintain supplies. There are risks also to the health and availability of employees, to their family obligations and to the health of management itself. In a fast-changing environment analysis needs to be flexible and constantly challenged and reappraised. Outside of food, healthcare and those businesses with