Location

Union League Club
38 E 37th St, NYC

DATE

Tuesday May 9, 2023

2023 NYC AGENDA

Printable Agenda Here

Last Year’s Agenda Here

8:00 AM
sign-in & Breakfast sponsored by alliancebernstein (AB)

8:30 AM
WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONs

8:40 AM
How to Achieve Engaged Family Governance — Dos and Don’ts

Dennis Jaffe, BanyanGlobal
David York, York Howell, ACTEC Fellow, Moderator

9:30 AM
How to Successfully Structure Governance for a 165-Year Family Business with 500 Owners — Laird Norton Case Study

Langdon Evans, G6 of the Laird Norton family
Babetta von Albertini, IFG Chair & General Counsel, ATM Capital Partners, Moderator

10:20 AM
BREAK sponsored by deutsche bank

10:50 AM
Fiduciary Challenges: How to Assist Families with Inter-Generational Transitions — Case Studies

Andrew G. Pitcairn, G4 of Pitcairn
Johan van Niekerk, Stonehage Fleming
Marina Cristiani, Esq., JTC Group
Mark Haranzo, Holland & Knight, ACTEC Fellow, Moderator

11:40 AM
keynote sponsored by Fiduciary Trust International
Lead to Serve: Harnessing the Power of Stewardship

David York, York Howell, ACTEC Fellow

12:30 PM
Lunch & Roundtable Discussions sponsored by Willow Street

2:00 PM
How to Align Corporate Governance and Family Governance

Yacine Diallo, Charles Russell Speechlys
Amy O’Keefe, Nixon Peabody
Mark Summers, Charles Russell Speechlys, Moderator

2:50 PM
BREAK

3:20 PM
Successful Inter-Generational Transitions: How to Change the Governance Structure to Make Room for the Next Generation — Case Studies

Chip Fisher, G2 of the Avery Fisher family
Katie Darnall, G4 of the Pictsweet Company family
Kiki Tauck Mahar, G3 of the Tauck family
Edouard Thijssen, G5 of Aliaxis Group, Moderator

4:20 PM
keynote:
Engaging & Inspiring the Next Generation

C. Mead Welles, G5 descendant of Carson Pirie Scott & Co., and Founder of ALTSO and Octagon Asset Mgmt.

5:20 PM
Concluding remarks

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 is a former Vice Chair of STEP New York and served for three years as elected U.S. representative on the STEP Global Council (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).

Dennis T. Jaffe, Ph.D. | Vice-Chair

Dennis, a San Francisco-based advisor to families about family business, governance, wealth and philanthropy, is Senior Research Fellow at BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors. He is author of Borrowed from Your Grandchildren: The Evolution of 100-Year Family Enterprises; 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. His global insights have led to teaching or consulting engagements in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. The Family Firm Institute awarded him the 2017 International Award for service, and in 2005 he received the Beckhard Award for service to the field. In 2020 he was awarded a special commendation as an individual thought leader in the field of wealth management by the Family Wealth Report. He has a BA degree in Philosophy, MA in Management, and Ph.D. in sociology, all from Yale University, and professor emeritus of organizational systems and psychology at Saybrook University in San Francisco.

John E. Oden | Vice-Chair

John is a Principal and a 30 year veteran of AllianceBernstein, a global investment management and research firm, with approximately US$700 billion under management through 51 offices in 25 countries. He specializes in working with complex global family relationships in the implementation of investment planning and asset allocation advice, and has taken a leading role in the development of the firm’s international private client business. John is a former Chair of the New York Branch of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), an international organization for professionals involved in cross-border tax and estate matters. He is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the China-US Business Alliance, a 12-year-old organization of senior professional advisors in both the US and Asia who have business activities in China. A strong supporter of athletics, John writes and speaks about the sport of boxing. His first book, White Collar Boxing – One Man’s Journey From the Office to the Ring, was published in 2005. It was followed in 2009 by Life in the Ring – Lessons & Inspirations from the Sport of Boxing. He holds BA and MBA degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.

David R. York, Esq. CPA | Vice-Chair

David is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of the Salt Lake City law firm York Howell & Guymon. He has extensive experience in designing and implementing advanced tax and estate planning strategies for high net worth clients, along with non-profit and business planning counsel. He is a Fellow with the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), a member of the Utah State Bar Budget and Finance Committee, and former Chair of the Utah State Bar Estate Planning Section. Noted as a Mountain States Rising Star in Super Lawyers Magazine, Utah Legal Elite in Utah Business Magazine and as a Top-Rated Lawyer in Trusts & Estates with Martindale-Hubbell, David has successfully represented clients before the Internal Revenue Service at all levels (Audit, Appeals, and Tax Court). David is co-author of Entrusted: Building A Legacy That Lasts and Riveted: 44 Values That Change the World. He is also the creator of Rivets™ Core Values card game and Rivets™ Certification Training.

Dennis Jaffe, Ph.D. | BanyanGlobal

Dennis, a San Francisco-based advisor to families about family business, governance, wealth and philanthropy, is Senior Research Fellow at BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors. He is author of Borrowed from Your Grandchildren: The Evolution of 100-Year Family Enterprises; 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. His global insights have led to teaching or consulting engagements in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. The Family Firm Institute awarded him the 2017 International Award for service, and in 2005 he received the Beckhard Award for service to the field. In 2020 he was awarded a special commendation as an individual thought leader in the field of wealth management by the Family Wealth Report. He has a BA degree in Philosophy, MA in Management, and Ph.D. in sociology, all from Yale University, and professor emeritus of organizational systems and psychology at Saybrook University in San Francisco.

David York, Esq. CPA | York Howell

David is an Attorney, Certified Public Accountant, and Managing Partner with the Salt Lake City law firm of York Howell. He practices law in the areas of estate planning, tax, business planning, and non-profit entities and has extensive experience in designing and implementing advanced wealth planning strategies for high net worth clients. David is a Fellow with the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), and former Chair of the Utah State Bar Estate Planning Section, and has spoken to hundreds of public groups and professional organizations. David is the co-author of three books, Entrusted: Building a Legacy That Lasts; The Gift of Lift; and Riveted: 44 Values that Change the World, which after its release was the #1 Business Ethics book on Amazon. He also created the game Experience Rivets™, which helps individuals, families, and businesses identify their unique and shared core values to assist them with holistic wealth transfer, effective estate planning, and team building.

Langdon Evans | G6 of Laird Norton family

Langdon is a consultant to family offices, family business, and family members, helping each to recognize their unique legacy and plan for the future. In his role at PwC, Langdon interfaces with businesses and families of all sizes. He brings a passion for family engagement, next generation education and family communication, balanced by an understanding of the business and planning requirements of a complex family system. His specific areas of focus include: family continuity planning, business/family governance, family office setup-diagnostics-and operational analysis, technology, risk analysis and more.

Babetta von Albertini, Ph.D. | IFG 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 is a former Vice Chair of STEP New York and served for three years as elected U.S. representative on the STEP Global Council (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).

Andrew D. Pitcairn | Pitcairn Family Council

A fourth-generation family member, Andrew actively serves as Chair of the Pitcairn Family Council. Established in 1982, The Pitcairn Family Council is a platform for recognizing talent, educating family members, identifying and implementing solutions for connectedness, and interfacing directors, management, and owners. Additionally, Andrew is a member of the Pitcairn Board of Directors, co-trustee of Pitcairn family trusts, Chair of the Governance Committee, member of the Risk committee, and an advisory member to the Capital committee. Andrew is also a guest to the Trust committee. Recognized as a published author and passionate speaker, Andrew regularly serves as an expert at family office and family business forums and conferences on topics related to family council, governance, and engaging the next generation. Andrew’s desire for knowledge and growth led to the creation of Family Council Concepts, a collaborative peer group of eight family council chairs whose discussions cover the challenges, concerns, and successes of multi-generational families with current and post-operating companies.

Johan van Niekerk | Stonehage Fleming

Johan is a Partner of the Stonehage Fleming Group and heads up their Family Office division in the US. After having spent 14 years in the group’s Swiss operations, where Johan was the Head of Family Office in Neuchatel, he moved to the US office in 2021. He serves as Key Adviser to a number of high net worth international families assisting them in protecting and managing their inter-generational wealth where his involvement spans the whole spectrum of the families’ affairs. Johan holds a Bachelor of Accounting (Honours) degree and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. Before joining Stonehage Fleming he worked in Specialised Finance.

Marina Cristiani, Esq. | JTC Group

Marina joined JTC with more than 18 years of experience working with UHNW individuals and international HNW families, with a focus on Latin America, providing tailor made solutions for their estate planning needs. Marina is a Trust and Estates Practitioner (TEP), an active STEP member and currently serves as Vice Chair of STEP New York, co-chair Events Committee; she is a member of the International Bar Association, and a founding board member of the Argentine Lawyers Association of New York. Marina is admitted to practice law by the Bar Association of the City of Buenos Aires. Marina is fluent in Spanish, English and Italian.

Mark Haranzo, Esq. | Holland & Knight

Mark E. Haranzo is Chair of Holland & Knight's New York Private Wealth Services Group. He focuses his practice on domestic and international private client matters for affluent individuals and their families. His clients include entrepreneurs, corporate executives, family offices, real estate developers, business owners, investors and investment bankers, as well as artists, entertainers, writers, collectors and philanthropists. Mark has more than 25 years of experience in all aspects of estate and gift planning for individuals and families, including matters with complex multigenerational or multijurisdictional issues. He advises corporate and individual fiduciaries and beneficiaries on all aspects of trust and estate administration. Mark is dual qualified in the United States and United Kingdom and represents U.S. and non-U.S. clients in the U.S. and abroad. He also represents clients in connection with disputes, such as will and trust contests, fiduciary appointments and contested accountings. In addition, Mr. Haranzo counsels charitable organizations and advises individuals on philanthropic matters. He also advises individuals on asset protection in connection with matrimonial matters and frequently structures prenuptial, postnuptial and cohabitation agreements, including international and multijurisdictional agreements.

Yacine Diallo, Esq. | Charles Russell Speechlys

Yacine advises a broad client base on a wide range of tax matters. He advises UHNWIs, international families, family offices and family backed multinational groups on cross border structuring aspects (including on the setting up of holding platforms or investment funds as well as on M&A, real estate, and venture capital transactions). He is usually involved on multifaceted family governance and wealth planning topics. Yacine also provides Luxembourg direct and indirect tax assistance to private equity and real estate investment funds. He is board member and general secretary of the Luxembourg Association of Family Offices. He is also member of the advisory committee of a Luxembourg family office.

Amy O’Keefe, Esq. | Nixon Peabody

Amy is a partner in Nixon Peabody’s Private Equity and Investment Funds group. She works extensively in the M&A space, representing both public and private strategic buyers as well as sellers of privately held businesses. In the Private Equity and Family Office space, she advises investors, funds, and family offices in connection with direct/portfolio investments, portfolio companies, and exit transactions.

Mark Summers, Esq. | Charles Russell Speechlys

From Charles Russell Speechlys’ office in Zürich, Mark advises global wealthy families, their businesses and wealth holding structures, and the institutions that service them. He is most noted advising families resident or investing in multiple highly taxed and regulated jurisdictions such as the US or EU where they are affected by complex multi-jurisdictional tax and legal issues. Mark is admitted to practise in England and Wales and as a foreign lawyer in the canton of Zürich and the Swiss Federation. Mark is a member of the IBA and the vice-chair of the STEP Public Policy Committee. He is a permanent Swiss resident with his family in the canton of Zug.

Chip Fisher | G2 of the Avery Fisher family

Chip Fisher is a lifelong New Yorker and grew up as a G2 of the family of Avery Fisher, who endowed a hall at Lincoln Center in the 1970’s. He currently serves on the board of the Avery Fisher Artist Award program. Chip is seasoned entrepreneur, with experience running small to medium sized startups. He is currently the Chairman of Fisher Wallace Laboratories, a company which makes a non-invasive FDA medical device used to treat mental health symptoms. Chip is also the Founder of Ursus Advisory, a life consultancy practice focusing on NextGen clients on the meaning of wealth, and how to live one’s life in the presence of it.

Katie Darnall | G4 of the Pictsweet Company family

Katie Darnall is a 4th generation family member of The Pictsweet Company and began her career in the family business as the Business Analytics Manager. She currently serves as the Business Development Director, Americas for Trusted Family and is based in Knoxville, TN. Katie brings experience in both NextGen family business engagement as well as technology and SaaS sales and implementation. Previous to joining Trusted Family, Katie ran the sales and customer teams for an early stage ecommerce analytics startup, Reviewbox, Inc. Katie loves bringing the two worlds together at Trusted Family by helping NextGens become an integral part in solving their governance challenges by utilizing strategic technology solutions.

Kiki Tauck Mahar | G3 of the Tauck family

Kiki is a third-generation co-owner of Tauck, Inc, her family’s 97 year-old travel company, based in Wilton, Connecticut. In that role, she has helped develop and oversee the company’s Board of Directors, has established multiple family and company policies related to family ownership, including Growth and Investment Policies, a Family Employment Policy, and multiple Shareholder Agreements.  She and her siblings have established a family office and have developed a system for accountability and decision making across multiple stakeholders within their family system. In addition, she and her family have built a multi-generational governance structure to effectively support the family’s growing enterprise activities. Kiki serves on Tauck Inc’s Board of Directors as well as the Board of the Tauck Family Foundation. She also serves as Chair of the family’s Voting Owners’ Council.  In 2018, she completed the Kellogg School of Management Executive Program: Governing Family Enterprises. She resides in Rochester, New York, with her husband, Dan, and their five children.

Edouard Thijssen | G5 of Aliaxis Group

Edouard is a G5 member of the Belgian family that owns the Aliaxis Group. Aliaxis is a global leader in advanced piping systems for building, infrastructure, industrial and agriculture applications. Aliaxis has a global workforce of 14,000 employees and operates in 40 countries. Eduard is also co-founder and CEO of Trusted Family, a leading governance platform for family businesses and family offices. Trusted Family is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, with offices in London and New York, providing services to 170 business families in 25 countries. Edouard is a 2007 graduate of the Solvay Business School and completed the "Leading the Family Business” program at IMD, Switzerland.

C. Mead Welles | Founder of ALTSO and CEO Octagon Asset Mgmt.

Mead is a G5 of the midwestern based department store chain Carson Pirie & Scott (“Carson’s”). Carson’s was founded in 1854 and grew to over 50 locations anchoring malls throughout the Midwest with its flagship store on State Street in Chicago. The family sold the business in 1989. Mead is also the co-founder and Chairman of A Leg To Stand On (“ALTSO”), a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charity based in New York City that helps children in developing countries with limb disabilities by providing free corrective surgery and artificial limbs. ALTSO was started in 2002 and today works with project partners in 10 countries around the world including India, Cambodia, Indonesia and Afghanistan to name a few. Each year ALTSO serves thousands of children in need and supports each child up to the age of 21 years old.  Mead has won many awards for his work at A Leg To Stand On including the World of Children Award, which the New York Times describes as the “Noble Prize for Child Advocates”. In addition, Mead is the Founder and Head Portfolio Manager at Octagon Asset Management, LLC (“Octagon”). Octagon is a FINRA registered alternative fixed income manager launched in 1997 that specializes in international trade and commodity finance. Prior to founding Octagon, Mead worked at Cargill. He received his BA in Economics from Bates College in Lewiston, ME with additional studies in International Business in Lugano, Switzerland.

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