Many lawyers believe that planning for family businesses would be much easier if only the family were not involved. Many good planning techniques fail to be adopted for reasons that are not always clear to lawyers. Families should do certain things to ensure future prosperity, but they hesitate and put off taking action. That often means that nothing happens: Not only is the opportunity for planning lost, but the tensions and problems within a family are exacerbated.

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Family Firm Institute has presented several programs this year on the subject of collaboration among different types of professionals in serving family businesses. The chapter is based in Philadelphia and has as its footprint the area from New York to Washington, D.C. Many area lawyers, and numerous other types of professionals, have taken part in these programs, and they have provided insight into how families operate and what drives their actions. Because very few lawyers are trained as psychologists, it is sometimes a mystery to understand how families work together or don’t. Some lawyers, especially those who have helped families over many years, gain an appreciation of psychological issues. But there is more to it, perhaps, than gathering experiences in family interactions. There are several types of nonlawyer consultants who can be helpful in solving the puzzles of the interactions of families and businesses.

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