Katten will host Loyola University Chicago's Family Business Center for the "Family Business Through a Legal Lens" program on Tuesday, April 29, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The program will feature interactive discussions on top concerns, with several Katten speakers participating.
Private Wealth Partner Adam Damerow will provide a welcome address and introductions at 8:30 a.m., as well as presenting the "Arc of Estate Planning for Family Business Owners" scenario-based presentation at 11:15 a.m., where panelists will address common estate planning evolutionary "Arcs" in a person's life, including the Arc of the testamentary estate plan; the Arc of transfer tax (gift; estate; GST) planning; and the Arc of additional planning considerations faced by most families.
At 8:35 a.m., Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Partner Mitchel Pahl will speak on "Executive Compensation, Hiring, and Corporate Culture," exploring best practices and legal considerations as organizations strive to attract and retain talent, and the blend of pay structures, hiring strategies, and corporate culture becomes more important.
At 9:25 a.m., Private Wealth Partner Tye Klooster will speak on the "Family Office Trends and Insights" panel, discussing trends and insights from the world of family offices. Topics covered will include top family office objectives, costs, technology and cybersecurity, governance and succession planning. The panelists will also share their personal experiences with respect to the timely topics.
At 10:25 a.m., Intellectual Property Partner Mike Justus will speak on "Setting AI Expectations in Your Family Business," where panelists will explore how family businesses assess AI opportunities, integrate them into strategic decision-making, and address potential legal risks as artificial intelligence continues to shape the business landscape and family-owned companies must carefully navigate its adoption while considering legal, ethical and governance implications.
At 1:00 p.m., Litigation Partner and Deputy General Counsel Charlie DeVore will speak on "Ethics and Professionalism for In-house Counsel," a scenario-based session to help better navigate ethical and professional challenges. Panelists will discuss counsel responsibilities in maintaining confidentiality, privilege, and professional obligations. Topics include managing conflicts of interest, the scope of attorney-client privilege, handling internal investigations, and responding to whistleblower complaints. Attendees will gain insights into legal ethics, corporate governance and best practices for balancing legal duties with business realities.
At 2:00 p.m., Health Care Partner Ben Griffith and Mergers and Acquisitions Partner Jeffrey Patt will speak on "The Intersection of Ever-Changing Regulations with Business Priorities," exploring how businesses can navigate ever-changing regulations while still balancing strategic priorities. The panel will cover key topics such as buy/sell stock agreements and managing governance paperwork to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.
Learn more about the program and find registration information.