Thought Leader Series

In March, Warner attorneys Jon Kok and DeAndre' Harris presented a webinar for the FOX Human Capital Network. The topic was common mistakes that managers, including family office managers, can make that could leave the office or families open to employment liability.Employment mistakes have bee...

What a difference a year makes. Trade war predictions, Facebook data scandals, inflation concerns and Federal Reserve comments have been whipsawing markets in the first few months of 2018. As a testament to the increased turbulence, through mid-April we had already notched 28 trading days that resul...

Two events in December 2017 presented new tax challenges for family offices and provide a reason to evaluate the structure of the office and the current classification of family office expenses. One is the US Tax Court’s decision in Lender Management v. Commissioner, TC Memo 2017-246 (“Lender”), and...

Every wealth creation event has a story behind it, and it is in those stories we find the seeds that have germinated and blossomed into a family history and culture. The stories mean nothing, however, if they are lost in the mists of time. They must be preserved, revisited, and kept alive through fa...

In December 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; a bold legislation designed to overhaul America’s tax code for the first time in 31 years. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) declared, “The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a game-changer for our country.” Taxpayers will see significant changes when ...

With all the media coverage in the last couple of months, you have certainly heard at least tidbits about the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Act), signed by the president in December. One of the most important provisions of the Act for high net worth (HNW) families is the increased exemption amounts for...

Like many holidays, Valentine’s Day is a time when employees celebrate, while HR representatives, in-house counsel, and business owners hold their breath. In the #MeToo era, employers should consider proactively addressing workplace relationships and shoring up internal policies for dealing with com...

Whether establishing a new trust, modifying an existing trust or dealing with a transition of the incumbent trustee, selecting the person or institution who will act as your trustee is one of the most important decisions you and your family members will make. Many families want to keep everythi...

A Private Family Trust Company (“PFTC”) offers families the ability to have intergenerational governance over family assets, and provides a private forum for decision-making. However, if the PFTC does not have the proper operational model, it could become another headline story about family discord ...

Is it ever worthwhile to accept concessionary investment returns?If your foundation’s aim is to achieve not just personal financial gain but also a specific positive social or environmental impact, the answer is a resounding yes. Foundations make program-related investments (PRI) to support charitab...