Structuring your family office

Managing substantial family wealth requires more than just careful financial planning – it calls for a well-defined structure and strategy to oversee what is, in effect, a business. However, creating a family office can be challenging, especially when it comes to bringing together the right professionals with the expertise and experience needed to support your unique goals.

At Bates Weston, we’ve guided families through this process, helping to establish family offices that effectively protect, manage, and grow their wealth. For those who don’t require a full-time family office team, we’ve developed a multi-disciplinary approach, assembling a trusted network of professionals to deliver tailored services. Whether it’s banking, private client or corporate legal advice, or investment management, we ensure your family office structure reflects your specific needs and values.

Every family office is unique, reflecting the complexity of different asset classes, legal structures, and family dynamics. Our expertise lies in creating solutions that work for your family now and in the future.

How we can help:

Family office structure:

We’ll work with you to design a structure that oversees, manages, and governs your family’s wealth while aligning with your values and priorities.

Family constitution:
A family constitution provides a framework for decision-making and dispute resolution. It typically outlines who is considered “family,” generational involvement, succession plans, advisor appointments, and communication strategies for business, philanthropy, and family matters.

Operational structure and governance:
Effective family office operations depend on strong leadership to set the vision and strategy, supported by skilled professionals to manage day-to-day responsibilities. We help establish governance structures that provide clarity and ensure your family office runs smoothly.

Professional trustee services:
The expertise and objectivity of a professional trustee can be invaluable when creating and managing family trusts, ensuring your assets are safeguarded for future generations.

Why choose Bates Weston?

We understand that managing family wealth is about more than financial management – it’s about creating a structure that supports your family’s values, goals, and legacy. Our experience in working with families across different asset classes and complex legal structures allows us to provide a service that is both tailored and comprehensive.

Whether you’re establishing a family office for the first time or refining an existing structure, we’re here to provide guidance, clarity, and peace of mind. Let us help you create a family office that not only manages your wealth but also reflects what matters most to your family.

If you’d like to explore how we can help with structuring your family office, get in touch with us today. We’ll work with you to understand your unique needs and build a solution that supports your family’s future.