Wealth Preservation and Succession for the Family Enterprise: Estate Planning and Beyond 2012


Course Date: April 25, 2012

Welcome and Introduction

Josephine M. Nadel — Owen Bird Law Corporation, Vancouver

Strategic Advising for the Family Enterprise

  • strengths and challenges of the family enterprise
  • the three-circle model: taking a systems approach
  • understanding family dynamics of family firms
  • being a strategic advisor to family enterprise clients

Wendy Sage-Hayward — Concentrix Solutions Inc., Vancouver 

Governance

  • governance structures for the family enterprise and its component systems (family, business, owners)
  • forms of communication for each system
  • examining family councils, shareholder forums, advisory boards, and other governance mechanisms
  • establishing consensus and common vision, mission, and values

Josephine M. Nadel — Owen Bird Law Corporation, Vancouver

Networking Break

Legislative Changes and Update Highlights

  • Wills, Estates and Succession Act
  • Adult Guardianship and Planning Statutes Amendment Act

Tamara G. Wong — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Estate Planning Tools

  • wills
  • trusts—alter ego/joint partner trusts, family trusts, voting trusts
  • beneficiary designations
  • powers of attorney/alternate directors
  • representation agreements
  • letter of wishes
  • shareholder agreements
  • marriage agreements

Sally Dennis — Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP, Vancouver

Networking Lunch (provided)

Case Update and Estate Litigation Highlights

  • wills, estates, and succession
  • Wills Variation Act
  • Fraudulent Conveyance Act
  • incapacity

Duncan J. Manson — Owen Bird Law Corporation, Vancouver

Strategic Ownership Options: Business Ownership and Succession

  • demographic realities
  • typical entrepreneur
  • selling or retaining the enterprise
  • retaining family ownership with non-family management
  • sale to a family member
  • management buy-out
  • sale to a third party

Pirooz Pourdad — PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break

Income Tax Considerations with Family Succession Plans

  • freezing strategies to minimize taxation
  • corporate attribution risks and implications
  • tax-efficient ownership structure for family enterprises
  • family trusts and 21st anniversary planning
  • post-mortem planning

David R. Baxter — Thorsteinssons LLP, Vancouver

Concluding Remarks

Josephine M. Nadel — Owen Bird Law Corporation, Vancouver