The use of a commercial lease to rip off minority owners in a closely held business
The Informed Board Podcast | CEO Succession Planning on a Clear Day
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Law Brief ®: Alan Gaynor and Richard Schoenstein Explore Business Divorce
Episode 8: Minority Oppression in the LLC: Interview With Professor Douglas Moll
Most business owners spend their time focused on the operation of their business, and the next steps in its growth. How can we exceed revenue targets, improve market share, hire the right people, reduce operational costs,...more
For both new and seasoned business owners, establishing a comprehensive estate plan is not just prudent—it’s essential. A well-structured estate plan ensures the continuity of your business, minimizes legal complications,...more
Balancing numbers and relationships when business and family intersect. Family-owned businesses occupy a unique and vital space in the economy. They combine entrepreneurial drive with deep personal commitment and long-term...more
Selling a closely held business is a major milestone. Whether the goal is retirement, estate planning or strategic growth, early preparation can help business owners protect value, avoid delays and position the company for a...more
Four sisters. One house. Who owns it? Today’s case delves into a thorny situation many closely-held family businesses struggle with—proving ownership....more
C Corp - Imagine a closely held and growing start-up business (“Corp”) that was recently incorporated under state law and, so, is treated as a regular C corporation for purposes of the federal income tax. Thus, Corp will pay...more
In the months preceding the general election in 2024, the owners of many closely held businesses who had not yet given much thought to the disposition of their future estates, including their businesses, decided they should...more
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), the most significant US tax overhaul since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The OBBBA includes critical changes impacting family offices,...more
Business succession planning and estate planning are often linked together, particularly in the case of closely held family businesses. In the case of a shareholder who wishes to pass along their shares of an S corporation as...more
Charitable organizations are dependent, in no small part, upon the financial support of many successful business owners. The generosity of these individuals and their organizations may be a manifestation of several factors...more
Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Connelly v. United States, that the valuation of a decedent’s shares in a closely held corporation for federal estate tax purposes must include insurance proceeds received...more
With the looming elections, tax planners have taken time to consider what the future of Estate and Gift Tax planning might be under the new Congress. Every new Congress considers changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,...more
Most closely held businesses, whether organized as a C or S corporation, LLC or partnership, have (or should have) a buy-sell agreement. A buy-sell agreement addresses what happens to an owner’s interest in the business when...more
Improperly structured buy-sell agreements for closely held businesses will lead to an unexpected increase in the estate tax imposed on the estate of the deceased owner. The Supreme Court decision emphasizes the need for a...more
On June 6, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a unanimous decision in Connelly v. United States and found that life-insurance proceeds payable to a closely held business for the purpose of funding a share...more
On June 6, 2024, the Supreme Court held 9-to-0 in Connelly v. United States that company-owned life insurance increases the company’s fair market value for estate tax purposes, and the company’s obligation to redeem a...more
The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Thomas A. Connelly et al. v. United States has significant implications for certain closely held business owners. The decision is important especially for those with, or planning to buy,...more
Many closely held businesses have shareholder buy/sell redemption agreements. These agreements are critical to maintaining business continuity when a key shareholder exits the company. When the redemption agreement is...more
On June 6, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Connelly v. United States affecting the valuation of closely held businesses for estate tax purposes. The Court explained that, for purposes of federal...more
On June 6, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a pivotal decision in Connelly v. United States, affecting how life insurance proceeds are treated in buy-sell agreements for closely held corporations. The ruling states that...more
In the recent case, Connelly v. United States, 602 U.S. (2024) (slip op.) the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that life insurance proceeds received by a closely held corporation which is used to fund the redemption of a...more
Legacy management is an age-old business that has not changed in decades. We propose moving away from an episodic, transactional delivery model and removing siloes between a family’s advisors – allowing for a proactive,...more
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of the United States recently determined in Connelly v. U.S. that the value of a life insurance policy must be included in the fair market value of a closely held business for...more
Many co-owners of closely held businesses will employ life insurance as a tool for funding the transfer of ownership in the business upon the death or retirement of an owner. In these cases, planning involves the use of...more
Amidst many recent sharply divided decisions, the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) on June 6, 2024 issued a rare unanimous ruling in Connelly v. United States, which addressed estate tax considerations relative to...more