TUESDAY,
ZURICH,
IFG Europe 2019 —Family Governance: Empowering Beneficiaries Through Inter-Generational Planning
About IFG
The mission of the Institute for Family Governance (“IFG”) is to implement strong governance that endures. This is achieved by empowering beneficiaries through inter-generational planning. Our values are serving families through: (i) open discussion, (ii) multi-disciplinary collaboration and (iii) know how exchange among families and the trusted advisors who serve them. View the About IFG page for more information.
DATE
Tuesday Nov 19, 2019
2019 Zurich AGENDA
Printable Agenda Here
2019 Zurich AGENDA
8:45 AM
REGISTRATION & BREAKFAst
9:20 AM
WELCOME
9:30 AM
How to Navigate Cross-Cultural Complexities: Importance of Law, Culture and Wealth
Dennis Jaffe, PhD, Wise Counsel Research
10:20 AM
The Role of Foundations in Family Governance
Prof. Dr. Dominique Jakob, University of Zurich, Full Professor of Private Law, Director of the Center for Foundation Law, Independent Advisor
11:00 AM
BREAK
11:30 AM
Empower Beneficiaries to Promote Family Wealth and Harmony
Dr. Babetta von Albertini, IFG Chair & General Counsel, ATM Capital Partners
12:10 pM
Assessing and Developing Governance Competencies: An Integrated Approach to Managing Family Talent
Nicolas Hollanders, Lansberg Gersick & Associates
1:00 PM
LUNCH
2:00 PM
Governance and Dispute Prevention Tools for Large, Family Controlled Businesses
Dr. Manuel Liatowitsch, Schellenberg Wittmer
2:50 PM
Trusts or Shareholder Agreements—What Works Best for Global Estate Planning? Case Study Outlining Advantages & Disadvantages
Dr. Natalie Peter, Blum & Grob
3:30 PM
BREAK
4:00 PM
Keynote: The Vontobel Family—Our Structure for Governance and Succession Planning
Dr. Maja Baumann, 4th Generation of the Vontobel Family and Member of the Board of Directors of Vontobel Holding AG and Bank Vontobel
4:45 PM
Concluding remarks
5:00 PM
Closing Reception
chair & Vice-chair
Babetta von Albertini, Ph.D. | IFG Founder & Chair
Babetta is the Chair of the Institute for Family Governance. She is an expert on family governance and U.S. tax law and has advised large domestic and international families on their governance and succession planning for approaching twenty years. Babetta is also the General Counsel of ATM Capital Partners, a single family office. Prior thereto, she was with Withers (a global trusts and estates law firm) for nine years, and Shearman & Sterling (a capital markets law firm) for three years, living and working in New York, London, Switzerland and Hong Kong. Babetta is a dual-qualified common law/civil law attorney (admitted to the bars of New York and Zurich, Switzerland) and holds both a Tax LL.M. and a Corporate LL.M. from NYU, as well as a Ph.D. in law from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. She currently serves as elected U.S. representative on the STEP Global Council (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).
Dennis T. Jaffe, Ph.D. | Vice-Chair
Dr. Jaffe, a San Francisco-based advisor to families about family business, governance, wealth and philanthropy, recently completed the working papers Governing the Family Enterprise: The Evolution of Family Councils, Assemblies and Constitutions, Releasing the Potential of the Rising Generation, and Good Fortune: Building a Hundred Year Family Enterprise, published by Wise Counsel Research, based on his current research with global multi-generational family enterprises. Dennis is author (or co-author) of Cross Cultures: How Global Families Negotiate Change Across Generations; Stewardship in your Family Enterprise: Developing Responsible Family Leadership Across Generations, and Working With the Ones You Love, as well as management books Rekindling Commitment, Getting Your Organization to Change and Take this Work and Love It. He has a BA degree in Philosophy, MA in Management, and Ph.D. in sociology, all from Yale University, and is professor emeritus of organizational systems and psychology at Saybrook University in San Francisco.
advisory board
Manuel Liatowitsch | Schellenberg Wittmer
Manuel Liatowitsch is a Litigation Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer’s Zurich Office. He represents clients in commercial disputes in Swiss courts and international arbitrations, including disputes about family/privately held companies. He also acts as an arbitrator. He further specializes in complex estate disputes and advises entrepreneurs and families on governance and succession in family businesses, and on estate planning and philanthropy. He is a member of the firm's management board. Manuel has authored various publications on private international law and international litigation and is a regular lecturer at the University of Zurich.
SPEAKERS
Dennis T. Jaffe, Ph.D. | Wise Counsel Research
Dennis is a San Francisco-based advisor to families about family business, governance, wealth and philanthropy. Based on his current research with global multi-generational family enterprises, he recently published the following working papers: (i) Governing the Family Enterprise: The Evolution of Family Councils, Assemblies and Constitutions, (ii) Releasing the Potential of the Rising Generation, and (iii) Good Fortune: Building a Hundred Year Family Enterprise, all published by Wise Counsel Research. Dennis is author (or co-author) of the following books: Cross Cultures: How Global Families Negotiate Change Across Generations; Stewardship in your Family Enterprise: Developing Responsible Family Leadership Across Generations, and Working With the Ones You Love, as well as management books: Rekindling Commitment, Getting Your Organization to Change and Take this Work and Love It. Dennis has a BA degree in Philosophy, MA in Management, and Ph.D. in sociology, all from Yale University, and is professor emeritus of organizational systems and psychology at Saybrook University in San Francisco.
Prof. Dr. Dominique Jakob, L.L.M. | University of Zurich, Full Professor of Private Law, Director of the Center for Foundation Law, Independent Advisor
Dominique is a professor of private law at the University of Zurich. He is of German origin and was appointed as a full professor at the University of Zurich in 2007 where he established the “Center for Foundation Law” in 2008. In addition to his University work, Dominique has developed a successful national and international private practice. His main fields are all aspects of foundation law (with a focus on Swiss, Liechtenstein, and German relations) as well as international estate and wealth panning (including trusts). He is the author of numerous publications in several countries, a sought-after speaker at international conferences, a board member of various institutions, and acts as independent counsel to governments, financial institutions, companies, foundations, associations, families, and private clients. Dominique is a member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law (TIAETL) and has been elected in the Private Client Global Elite since 2017.
Babetta von Albertini, Ph.D. | IFG Founder & Chair
Babetta is the Chair of the Institute for Family Governance. She is an expert on family governance and U.S. tax law and has advised large domestic and international families on their governance and succession planning for approaching twenty years. Babetta is also the General Counsel of ATM Capital Partners, a single family office. Prior thereto, she was with Withers (a global trusts and estates law firm) for nine years, and Shearman & Sterling (a capital markets law firm) for three years, living and working in New York, London, Switzerland and Hong Kong. Babetta is a dual-qualified common law/civil law attorney (admitted to the bars of New York and Zurich, Switzerland) and holds both a Tax LL.M. and a Corporate LL.M. from NYU, as well as a Ph.D. in law from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. She currently serves as elected U.S. representative on the STEP Global Council (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).
Nicolas Hollanders | Lansberg Gersick & Associates
Nicolas is a Partner with Lansberg Gersick, a global advisory and research firm in the family business field. He advises families on shareholder strategy, governance, executive transition and succession planning, family talent, and philanthropy. In addition, Nicolas is the Chairman of the Sandrose Foundation, a family holding controlling a USD four billion international minerals group with approximately fifty shareholders. Further, he is a Member of the Owners Council of Etex & Aliaxis, two other industrial groups, governing the affairs of nearly three hundred and fifty descendants. Previously, Nicolas was Chief Human Resources Officer of Delhaize Group, a NYSE company employing over 150,000. Prior thereto, he was with Egon Zehnder, where he assisted several large family companies with executive leadership transitions and independent board staffing. Nicolas started his professional life as an attorney in Brussels, and a part time Assistant Professor in corporate law at the University of Leuven, Belgium.
Dr. Manuel Liatowitsch, Schellenberg Wittmer
Manuel Liatowitsch is a Litigation Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer’s Zurich Office. He represents clients in commercial disputes in Swiss courts and international arbitrations, including disputes about family/privately held companies. He also acts as an arbitrator. He further specializes in complex estate disputes and advises entrepreneurs and families on governance and succession in family businesses, and on estate planning and philanthropy. He is a member of the firm's management board. Manuel has authored various publications on private international law and international litigation and is a regular lecturer at the University of Zurich.
Dr. Natalie Peter | Blum & Grob
Dr. Natalie Peter is a Partner of the Zurich law firm Blum & Grob Attorneys at Law and is heading the firm’s private client team. She has extensive experience in advising clients and their families on cross-border planning, including estate and tax planning and analyzing and setting up tax-efficient structures. Natalie has extensive knowledge in matters relating to the taxation of trusts and foundations as well as the establishing of tax-exempt charitable organizations. She is a frequent speaker and lecturer.
Dr. Maja Baumann | 4th Generation of the Vontobel Family and Member of the Board of Directors of Vontobel Holding AG and Bank Vontobel
Maja is a member of the 4th generation of the Vontobel family and a director of Vontobel Holding AG and Bank Vontobel AG. In addition, she is a partner with the Zurich law firm REBER Rechtsanwälte KlG, advising Swiss and international clients on corporate law and good corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate matters. Maja holds a Ph.D. from the University of Zurich as well as an LL.M. in Corporate Law from New York University and is admitted to the Bars of Zurich and New York. She is a member of the committee of the Chamber of the Specialist SBA in Real Estate and Construction Law, a member of the board of directors of Swisspearl Group AG and several family holding companies as well as a member of the foundation council of the charitable Vontobel Foundation and the Zoo Zurich foundation.
Know How
2019 PRESENTATIONS
IFG Pre-Conference Workshop with Dennis JAffe (Zurich): TOOLS FOR POSITIVE CHANGE IN FAMILY BUSINESS SYSTEMS: LESSONS LEARNED FROM 100-YEAR BUSINESS FAMILIES
How to Navigate Cross-Cultural Complexities: Importance of Law, Culture and Wealth
Dennis Jaffe
Family enterprises face similar problems as they enter a global economy, but each family comes from a different cultural heritage, a local culture that sets their worldview and relationships. Dennis will present three predominant cultural world-views—Honor, Harmony, and Individualist culture styles—and how each one affects family dynamics and relationships. As families face new realities, traditional views of older generations are challenged by the global experience of their rising generations. These differences must be addressed and overcome. Dennis will conclude by presenting what he calls the 4th Culture, a blended perspective that crosses the three styles.
The Role of Foundations in Family Governance
Prof. Dr. Dominique Jakob
Dominique will discuss the role that foundations can play in safeguarding family governance in family businesses and will summarize the various models of how foundations can be used as holding structures. Since legal structures are ultimately limited by the force of law, he will also focus on how to integrate family values into legal tools. This requires addressing the right questions in order to successfully integrate solid legal structures with sustainable family happiness. Dominique will also discuss various examples from his practice.
Empower Beneficiaries to Promote Family Wealth and Harmony
Dr. Babetta von Albertini
Being named a trust beneficiary brings the prospect of receiving wealth. Yet, regardless of the accompanying financial benefit, beneficiaries often feel resentment - not at being beneficiaries but lacking control over the trust. While some limitations may have been imposed for good reasons, other restrictions may not be necessary. By including beneficiaries in a trust's governance, one can also improve the long-term financial stewardship. Thus, when designing trusts, practitioners should explore with clients what powers can appropriately be given to beneficiaries. Two case studies will be used to illustrate how a governance mechanism was "negotiated" between a patriarch and his children. Our findings underscore the essential process of obtaining "buy-in" from the next generation.
Article: Empowering Beneficiaries to Promote Family Wealth and Harmony
Article: RBC Wealth Transfer Report 2017
Article: Teaching Your Old Trust New Tricks
Assessing and Developing Governance Competencies: An Integrated Approach to Managing Family Talent
Nicolas Hollanders
Successful families in business make the best use of the available family talent at various levels. Most systems however lack the description of the competencies expected from the incumbents. Whether family members display these competencies will however ultimately determine the success or the failure of the system. Competencies have been widely used in corporate human resource systems across the world. But little if no attention has been paid to so far to exploring how they can possibly become a cornerstone in the development and management of talent in a family governance system.
Governance and Dispute Prevention Tools for Large, Family Controlled Businesses
Dr. Manuel Liatowitsch
Switzerland is home to a substantial number of large family held or controlled businesses, including global leaders. How do families prevent disputes and ensure a smooth transfer of the business to the next generation? How do they deal with the restrictions imposed by forced heirship rights? Manuel's presentation will show how families owning or controlling a large business use a combination of a family holding company, shareholder agreements and succession pacts to keep control and peace.
Trusts or Shareholder Agreements—What Works Best for Global Estate Planning? Case Study Outlining Advantages & Disadvantages
Dr. Natalie Peter
Some families enter into rigid shareholder agreements to ensure that only relatives in the bloodline may inherit shares of the family business. Other families settle trusts and transfer the shares of the family business to the trustee.
What works best? To select the optimal legal structure for a family, various factors have to be taken into consideration, including: (i) the type of family business, (ii) the jurisdictions of the family members involved, and (iii) the wishes and goals of the family. Natalie will discuss case studies that will show advantages and disadvantages of using either trusts or shareholder agreements for global estate planning.
The Vontobel Family—Our Structure for Governance and Succession Planning
Dr. Maja Baumann
Maja will share some of her insights on the governance structure of the Vontobel Family. Their structure was designed to own a substantial amount of Vontobel Holding shares in order to: (i) ensure continued professional ownership, (ii) implement processes that reflect good corporate governance, and (iii) facilitate succession. The Vontobel family's innovative solution was developed and implemented over multiple years, with the final step completed in 2016, and comprises family holding companies and a charitable foundation.
Article: Interview Handelsblatt
Article: Interview re Estate of Dr. Hans Vontobel
Article: Vontobel Holding AG Press Release
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION
Until September 30, 2019
Registration
USD 450 before September 30
USD 550 after September 30
Membership
Annual Membership
$125
Learn more about IFG
Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be in writing. If you are unable to attend, a substitution may be made at any time. Registrations cancelled before October 1, 2019 will be refunded in full, less a $100 USD administrative fee. Registrations cancelled between October 1, 2019 and October 31, 2019 will receive a 25% credit towards another IFG conference within a year’s period. No refunds or credits can be issued for cancellations after October 31, 2019. No-shows are subject to the full fee.
Financial Aid: Financial aid is available upon request. Please contact: info@ifgworldwide.org.
info@IFGworldwide.org
Institute for Family Governance Ltd.
1815 Palmer Avenue, Unit 2D
Larchmont NY 10538
United States
212-682-6113