Family Business: 10 generations and 10 lessons
About the event
Family businesses are built on strong relationships and shared history, and those strengths often guide them through day‑to‑day decisions. But when a business faces change — whether expected or unexpected — those close ties can make the path forward less clear. It is common for families to feel the pressure of balancing personal connections with what the business needs. Change can take many forms: a new generation stepping in, a shift in direction, leadership transitions, or even the decision to sell.
Our guest speaker, Claire Austin of Austin’s Funeral Directors, will share her experience of working within a long‑established Hertfordshire family business. She will talk about the history of the firm, what she has learned from being part of a multi‑generational organisation, and the practical realities of managing change while maintaining family harmony.
Her perspective will set the scene for the legal guidance that follows from Longmores Solicitors highlighting the issues families commonly encounter when making important decisions about the future of their business including:
- Good governance
- Responsibilities of change makers to ensure the success of the business
- How to avoid disruption and disputes
- Succession planning so you can implement decisions with as little stress as possible
- Preparing a business for sale so you can maximise the opportunity when the time comes
- Handling employment issues within family business
After the presentation, delegates will be invited to ask questions to the panel of speakers.
Booking
We are co-hosting this event with the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and it is free to attend.
Please click here to make a booking.
Speakers
Claire Austin
Austin’s Funeral Directors
01438 316623
claire@austins.co.uk
Claire Austin is the Managing Director of Austin’s Funeral Directors, a tenth‑generation family business serving communities across Hertfordshire. She brings thoughtful insight into the rewards and challenges of running a heritage family firm, drawing on years of hands‑on experience in leadership, long‑term planning and supporting families during significant moments of change.
Michael Budd
Longmores Solicitors
Partner and Head of Company Commercial
01992 305234
michael.budd@longmores.law
Michael is a corporate specialist advising on a broad spectrum of matters, including acquisitions and disposals, restructurings, management buy-ins/outs, joint ventures and corporate finance. Michael has successfully assisted a range of clients from SMEs to large corporations and global businesses. Michael is ranked in The Legal 500.
Alastair Liddiard
Longmores Solicitors
Partner and Head of Trust and Estate Administration
01992 512779
alastair.liddiard@longmores.law
Alastair helps individuals and families to plan for the future and manages and advises on the administration of estates. He takes a highly personalised approach to give clients the options and information they need to make the right decisions. Alastair is ranked in The Legal 500 and a member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Law Society’s Private Client Section.
John Wiblin
Longmores Solicitors
Partner and Head Dispute Resolution
01992 305252
john.wiblin@longmores.law
John has a distinguished legal career dealing with all manner of commercial disputes. He specialises in shareholder and partnership disputes, theft and misuse of commercially confidential information, copyright and trademark infringement, and matters relating to the recruitment industry. He is a Solicitor-Advocate with the right to appear in any court in England and Wales, a qualified Arbitrator and Mediator and he is ranked in The Legal 500.
Miranda Mulligan
Longmores Solicitors
Senior Solicitor
01992 305212
miranda.mulligan@longmores.law
Miranda is a solicitor specialising in advising businesses on employment law. She has experience bringing and defending employment tribunal proceedings, as well as being an accredited mediator. Miranda also helps her clients with contracts of employment, consultancy agreements and settlement agreements. Miranda is ranked as a Leading Associate in The Legal 500 and is an accredited mediator.