Family Office
For over a century, Jackson Walker’s Family Office group has counseled high net worth families and individuals, tailoring our services to fit their unique legal needs. We collaborate with families and their advisors to provide business structuring advice, wealth and tax planning, and specialized asset planning. Drawing upon the experience of attorneys in a wide range of practice areas, we help family office clients realize their goals and strengthen their legacy for generations to come.
OUR APPROACH
We offer a comprehensive and holistic approach that is centered around trust and responsiveness. Developing deep personal relationships with our clients is key to understanding their values and priorities, further enabling us to provide unparalleled service and innovative solutions that address our clients’ multifaceted business objectives.
WHAT SETS US APART
Many attorneys can provide business advice and estate and tax planning services. The Jackson Walker Family Office group is distinct in that it offers all of these services in one team. Jackson Walker’s Family Office attorneys work side by side to address the complex matters facing high net worth families. Our collaborative approach allows us to explore all issues from multiple viewpoints, providing a significant advantage when it comes to ensuring our clients’ needs are met both in the short and long term. Our team understands the dynamics involved in combining an organizational chart with a family tree. Taking into account financial assets, business operations, family relationships, and other factors, we determine the appropriate structure for the family office to minimize risks while maximizing income, gift and estate tax benefits, and operational efficiencies.
OUR CLIENTS
Individuals, Single-Family, and Multi-Family Offices
Family offices come in many forms and sizes. They range from individual multi-millionaires, to single families who have built their net worth across generations, to groups of families who elect to capitalize on the benefits of pooling assets and investment capabilities. Likewise, they may own various types of assets and therefore focus on diverse goals. Often a family office holds both domestic and international investments. Our Family Office group is experienced in handling these overlapping legal and tax regimes in a manner that maximizes the wealth and security of the family office. We have built family offices from the ground up for some of Texas’ wealthiest families.
Family-Owned Businesses
We provide a wide range of services to privately held and family–owned businesses, working with clients from the earliest stages of business development through succession planning and liquidation. Our focus is not just on the family business and its success, but on the individuals and family. Part of our relationships first approach is a focus on ensuring there is minimal contention among family members in the management and operation of the family business. We put structures in place that allow the family business to operate efficiently and create a method for a smooth transfer of leadership, whether now or in the future, and whether to the next generation, new management, or new owners.
OUR SERVICES
Our Corporate and Securities practice group has the experience and knowledge to handle any business transaction. Just a few of our services include:
- Family office design and governance implementation that aligns with the family’s goals
- Succession planning for businesses and investments
- Acquiring and structuring assets to preserve, diversify, and grow family investments, including entity formation, mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances
- Negotiation of business agreements of all types
- Private securities offerings, including co-investments with other family offices
- Assistance with investing in private equity and venture funds
- Representation of families in various financing transactions
Our Tax and Trusts & Estates practice groups craft comprehensive wealth preservation strategies through services such as:
- Strategy development to ensure the transfer of wealth in a manner that creates a lasting legacy
- Implementation of structures and transactions that align with clients’ business objectives and interests while minimizing income and transfer tax consequences
- Estate and trust planning and administration
- Charitable planning, including family foundations and public charities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, and other gift planning vehicles
- Tax-efficient solutions for the transfer or liquidation of assets to preserve wealth for future generations
Whether it is art held for investment purposes, a private jet for travel convenience, the family farm, or inherited mineral interests, our attorneys are well-versed in legal issues surrounding specialized assets commonly held by family offices including:
- Aircraft and marine vessels
- Intellectual property interests
- Oil and gas leases
- Ranches and farmlands
- Specialty collections (art, equine, antiques, jewelry)
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Dispute Resolution – When controversies arise, our clients can rely upon the capabilities of one of the largest trial groups in the Southwest United States. We represent family office clients that are plaintiffs or defendants in both personal and business litigation.
Privacy Preservation – Privacy protection must be considered not in isolation, but as part of a comprehensive strategy for asset protection and wealth preservation. Our attorneys are well versed in both the traditional and advanced planning tools available to safeguard privacy.
International and Immigration Issues – Jackson Walker attorneys regularly advise families with multiple citizenships and domiciles on a wide variety of issues including United States immigration, citizenship, cross-border income, transfer tax issues, and estate tax planning.
October 24, 2024
Speaking Engagements
Lauren Ciminello Moderates “Fireside Chat with a Family Office” for Association for Corporate Growth Dallas / Fort Worth
On Thursday, October 24, 2024, Jackson Walker partner Lauren Ciminello will serve as the moderator during a panel discussion at the 2024 ACG DFW Fort Worth October Content Program.
July 18, 2024
Spotlight
Family Office Practice Recognized in Chambers High Net Worth Guide; Sarah Patel Pacheco Ranked for High Net Worth Disputes
Chambers and Partners, the world’s leading independent professional legal research company, has recognized Sarah Patel Pacheco and our Family Office practice in its High Net Worth Guide for 2024.
June 6, 2024
Spotlight
Chambers and Partners Releases 2024 USA Guide Featuring 67 Jackson Walker Attorneys and 23 Ranked Departments
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 67 attorneys and 23 departments for inclusion in the 2024 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys were ranked across 27 departments, with 3 attorneys listed among multiple areas, 8 ranked nationwide in their respective areas, and 15 recognized for the first time.
July 24, 2023
Spotlight
Jackson Walker Recognized in Chambers High Net Worth Legal Guide for Family Offices & Funds Structuring
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has recognized the Family Office practice, led by Lauren Sracic Ciminello, in the 2023 Chambers High Net Worth Guide.
June 1, 2023
Spotlight
Chambers and Partners Recognizes Jackson Walker Attorneys and Practices in 2023 USA and Global Guides
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 51 attorneys and 17 departments for inclusion in the 2023 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys recognized in the guides were ranked in 19 practice areas, with 4 attorneys listed among multiple areas and 6 named among the top attorneys nationwide in their respective areas.
April 19, 2023
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Expands Tax Group With Addition of Aaron Pinegar
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the addition of Aaron Pinegar as a partner in the Dallas Tax practice. Joining from a Baltimore-based law firm, Aaron concentrates his practice on U.S. federal income tax matters for a wide range of business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, tax-free reorganizations, spin-offs, financings, restructurings, and tax incentive transactions.
November 28, 2022
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Welcomes Carolyn Mulvey to Corporate & Securities Practice
Carolyn Mulvey represents companies in mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, and corporate restructuring transactions. She has extensive experience advising private companies and family offices in a broad array of transactional matters.
July 18, 2019
Mentions
Stephanie Chandler Quoted in ‘The Texas Lawbook’ on the Changing M&A Landscape for Family-Owned Businesses
Following the sale of C.H. Guenther and Whataburger, The Texas Lawbook sought insights from Stephanie L. Chandler on the rising number of mergers and acquisitions involving family-owned businesses based in Texas.
