Are Multi-generational Family Businesses Primed for Greater Success or Failure?

2/17/17

By Michael Mercurio Esq., Offit | Kurman, Attorneys at Law

The Freakonomics Podcast Offers Arguments for and Against “Scionology”

America’s oldest brewery is a family business. Up until 2008, so was the world’s largest brewery.

It isn’t just Yuengling and Anheuser-Busch that have found success as multigenerational family businesses. Companies owned and operated by families comprise roughly a third of the Fortune 500 and include among them names like Wal-Mart, Samsung, Nike, and Volkswagen. To be sure, not every family firm rises to this level of prominence. A typical family business may or may not perform better than its non-family-owned competitors, which begs the question: If keeping the business in the family does not necessarily translate to long-term prosperity, who should take over after the founder?

A recent installment of the Freakonomics podcast offers some insight. The episode, entitled “The Church of ‘Scionology’,” explores the complex and sensitive issue of family business inheritance, taking a close look at the scions tasked with carrying their parents’ and grandparents’ legacies forward. Through interviews with economists and company executives, the episode sheds light on considerations many family business owners face, such as how to choose an heir and how to motivate family member employees. The podcast also touches on why so many owners do not have a succession plan in place, a phenomenon which—according to family firm consultants—is “a. not uncommon, and b. a terrible idea.”

You can access the podcast here.

Once you have listened to the episode, why not check out some of Offit Kurman’s articles about family business? I recommend starting with “Family Business Myths, Debunked.”

And of course, I welcome to you contact me with any family business thoughts or questions you may have.

ABOUT MICHAEL N. MERCURIO

Michael Mercurio Casual-Small

Business attorney and M&A lawyer Michael N. Mercurio serves as outside general counsel on matters related to business law, M&A, and real estate law. As a strategic partner to firm clients, Mr. Mercurio regularly counsels entrepreneurial individuals and assorted entities on all aspects of business and commerce, with a core specialty in mergers and acquisitions—both from the sell side perspective and buy-side perspective.

ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN

Offit Kurman is one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. With over 135 attorneys offering a comprehensive range of services in virtually every legal category, the firm is well positioned to meet the needs of dynamic businesses and the people who own and operate them. Our eleven offices serve individual and corporate clients in the Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City. At Offit Kurman, we are our clients’ most trusted legal advisors, professionals who help maximize and protect business value and personal wealth. In every interaction, we consistently maintain our clients’ confidence by remaining focused on furthering their objectives and achieving their goals in an efficient manner. Trust, knowledge, confidence—in a partner, that’s perfect.

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