Family Office Attorneys

At Falcon Rappaport & Berkman, our Family Office Industry Group provides broad-based legal services tailored to the unique needs of families and their businesses. We understand that family offices are more than financial management entities; they are essential to preserving wealth, maintaining harmony, and advancing long-term goals across generations. 

Our attorneys work closely with clients and their allied service professionals to develop integrated strategies that address every aspect of family office operations, including wealth preservation, estate planning, tax optimization, business succession, philanthropy, and regulatory compliance. We combine the diverse legal knowledge we’re known for with a practical understanding of family dynamics and business structures to deliver solutions that align with each family’s objectives and values. 

Our Family Office Services Include 

Wealth Planning and Preservation: 
Structuring trusts, estates, and investment vehicles to maximize tax efficiency while preserving family wealth for future generations. We assist with the formation of the family office itself and closely held funds, and we advise about major real estate acquisitions and private equity transactions on both the buy-side and the sell-side. 

Tax Planning, Compliance, and Audit Defense: 
Advising about federal, state, local, and international tax matters affecting family offices, investments, and intergenerational wealth transfers. Our team also represents clients in tax audits at every level of government, providing experienced and effective audit defense and advance planning to minimize risk. 

Corporate and Business Matters: 
Supporting family-owned businesses and private investments through governance planning, succession strategies, and risk management. We also counsel clients about entity formation, capital structure, and complex transactions involving closely held funds and real estate investments. 

Preventing and Resolving Family Disputes: 
We work to prevent disputes through clear governance structures and comprehensive planning. When conflicts arise, our attorneys are skilled at resolving them in an efficient manner from the perspective of both tax consequences and legal expenses, endeavoring to avoid tax friction in asset divisions and the devastating impact of internecine litigation. 

Philanthropy and Charitable Giving: 
Assisting families in establishing and managing charitable foundations, donor-advised funds, split-interest trusts, and other philanthropic vehicles that reflect their values and legacy goals while achieving tax and financial objectives. 

Privacy and Asset Protection: 
Implementing legal strategies to safeguard family wealth and personal information from legal, financial, and reputational risks, such as lawsuits, creditor pursuit, divorce, cybercrime, and negative publicity. 

Our team works closely with accountants, investment managers, concierge service providers, and other professionals within and alongside family offices to ensure that every decision reflects a coordinated and holistic approach. Whether guiding a multigenerational family through a complex acquisition or managing the daily operations of a family office, we deliver pragmatic and forward-thinking advice designed to protect and grow a family’s legacy for generations to come.