The role of foundations in family governance

Family businesses nowadays face numerous challenges caused by multinational family structures, the interplay of generations and inheritance law. This article deals with the role that foundations can play in safeguarding family governance within family businesses. It explains the various models of how foundations can be used as holding structures for businesses. However, as the force of law is limited, the article then focuses on how to integrate family values into the legal tools and attempts to identify the right questions that have to be addressed in order to successfully combine solid legal structures with sustainable family happiness.