he Group helps clients structure and restructure family businesses in the pursuit of long-term family goals. When generational transition poses critical challenges, S&C draws upon the expertise of the Firm’s Estates and Personal, Corporate, Real Estate, Litigation and Tax groups. Together they work to preserve the vitality of a family’s company and address concerns about control and the division of wealth. The Group also advises on governance matters for family businesses, including family governing bodies (family constitutions and family councils), family business planning, family office structures and on a host of related issues of importance for family businesses such as conflict resolution, risk management and ESG investing.

S&C has a proven track record of securing favorable results in the full range of litigation for the world’s leading financial institutions, corporations and individuals. We have long-standing relationships with our clients and frequently advise our clients on their most complex legal issues.

Trusts and estates litigation often presents complex conflict-of-laws issues and requires coordinated litigation strategies across multiple jurisdictions. The Firm is regularly involved in disputes regarding contested wills, trust administration, challenged gifts and forced inheritance laws. S&C has a reputation for negotiating the resolution of such disputes in creative, tax-efficient ways that minimize family strife, expense and publicity.

• a broad spectrum of employment matters, including workforce restructuring; compliance with complex U.S. and non-U.S. statutes, independent contractor and Fair Labor Standards Act classification and related wage and hour issues; investigations of employee complaints; resolution of particular employee situations; creation of employment agreements and severance arrangements; international issues; and additional traditional labor law matters.

Shareholder activism can be extraordinarily disruptive if not handled with appropriate care. We look beyond a simple defense strategy, and design a holistic approach, providing clients with a “playbook” for success that draws expertise from across S&C’s practice areas. Defense tactics that provide short-term relief are only part of the solution, as successful outcomes must be measured over the long term. We also partner with clients to respond to shareholder proposals and demands, and regularly work with issuers to craft no action letters and opposition statements in relation to shareholder proposals.