Establish a family office governance framework

We establish family office governance framework so your family can manage shared assets, business interests, and wealth across generations.

A family office governance framework establishes the rules and processes by which a family manages its shared assets, investment interests, and business activities. Without a framework, decisions that seem simple when family relationships are strong become the source of conflict when circumstances change. We advise on the governance frameworks that give families the structure they need to manage wealth together without allowing disagreement to become dispute.

Governance framework designed for the actual complexity of your family's arrangements.

Legal documentation that gives effect to the governance arrangements the family has agreed on.

Framework reviewed and updated as the family and its circumstances change.

The family's assets and business interests are only governed as well as the framework that manages them.

Shared family wealth managed without a governance framework depends entirely on the relationships between family members remaining consistently positive. A governance framework does not require that assumption. It creates the structure and processes that allow the family to manage its affairs together without the arrangements depending on goodwill that circumstances can change.

Shared family wealth needs governance, not just goodwill.

Your family has accumulated significant assets and multiple family members are involved in managing them. The arrangement works when relationships are strong, but the decisions and processes that hold it together are not documented in a way that makes them durable. A governance framework turns what works on goodwill into something that works by design.

We will advise on the governance structures and processes that best suit your family's circumstances and the assets and interests being managed.
We will prepare the legal documentation required to implement the governance framework, including shareholder agreements, unitholding arrangements, and trust deed provisions where needed.
We will advise on the family charter and other governance documents that support the framework.
We will assist in reviewing and updating the framework as the family's circumstances change.

The family has accumulated significant assets and multiple people are involved in managing them, but without a clear framework for how decisions are made, the arrangement depends on goodwill that circumstances can change.

Wealth creates complexity, and complexity without structure creates conflict. When multiple family members are involved in managing assets, running businesses, or drawing on shared resources, the decisions that seem straightforward today become the source of disagreement when circumstances shift. A governance framework does not assume conflict. It creates the structure that makes conflict less likely and, when disagreements do arise, gives the family a process to work through them rather than allowing them to become permanent.

What's included in your family office governance framework service

Governance framework design and advice.
Legal documentation preparation and implementation.
Family charter and governance principles advice.
Dispute resolution mechanism design.
Framework review and update advice.

What goes wrong when family wealth is managed without a governance framework?

Families who manage shared assets without a governance framework typically find that the arrangement works smoothly until a significant change occurs, such as the passing of the family patriarch or matriarch, a disagreement between siblings over investment decisions, or the involvement of the next generation who did not participate in building the original wealth. At that point, the goodwill that held the arrangement together is no longer sufficient, and the absence of documented processes and agreed decision-making authority makes disputes harder to resolve. The framework that would have prevented the dispute is hardest to establish once the dispute has already begun.

Here is how we help you establish a governance framework for your family's assets and business interests.

We work with the family to understand the assets, interests, and relationships that the governance framework needs to address, and advise on the structure and processes that best suit those circumstances. We prepare the legal documentation required to give effect to the framework and advise on the non-legal governance documents that support it. We assist in establishing the framework in a way that the family understands and accepts, and advise on how it should be reviewed and updated over time.

Three steps to establishing a governance framework for your family office.

Framework designed, documentation prepared, governance implemented.

Design the framework.

We work with the family to understand the assets and interests to be governed and advise on the governance structures and processes that best suit the circumstances.

Prepare the documentation.

We prepare the legal documentation required to implement the framework and advise on the governance documents that support it.

Implement and maintain.

We assist in implementing the framework and advise on when it should be reviewed and updated as the family's circumstances change.

Lawyers experienced in family office governance, wealth structuring, and family advisory arrangements across Australia, with a particular focus on New South Wales and South Australia.

Family governance conversations can be difficult to initiate, particularly in families where wealth has been built by a single generation and governance structures have never been formally established. We facilitate those conversations with an understanding of the dynamics involved and assist families in establishing governance frameworks that are accepted by all members and durable over time.

We understand you want to know the cost, before we get started.

We will map out our process, from beginning to end, so you know what the journey will look like before you get started.

We will provide you with a clear and detailed Work Proposal covering each step along the way.

Our fair fees are all-inclusive. No hidden costs for telephone calls, emails, photocopying, couriers, or coffee.

Our great lawyer guarantee

We want to be part of your team over the long term. We achieve this by adhering to these core principles:

Take the time

We listen carefully to understand what you want to achieve. Then we thoroughly explain our advice and step you through the documents. You can be sure you know the full consequences.

Share our knowledge

We will pass on as much knowledge as we can, so you can make your own informed decisions. We want to make you truly independent.

Stick to our knitting

We only do what we're good at. You can be confident that we know what we're doing and don't pass on the cost of our learning.

Work as one team

Someone will always be available to answer your questions, or point you in the right direction. You will also benefit from a range of perspectives and experience.

Fair pricing

For advice and documents, we provide a fixed or capped quote so you don't take price risk. If you're in a dispute, we map out the process and costs so you know what to expect.

It's your show

We're not in this for our egos. We're in it for a front row seat to witness your success.

Ready to establish a governance framework for your family's wealth?

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