Emily Brand

Back in June, we celebrated the launch of the STEP Business Families and Family Businesses Handbook with a distinguished panel of advisers and family business experts. The evening explored the evolving challenges of advising family businesses, from succession planning and governance to the human and interpersonal dynamics that shape long-term success.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s engagement to long-term partner Georgina Rodríguez may be a celebrated occasion, but for family lawyers and financial advisers, it raises a number of significant cross-border considerations for high-net-worth couples. Partner and Head of Family, Emily Brand, spoke to EPrivateClient about the importance of prenuptial planning across jurisdictions, particularly in light of Ronaldo’s international lifestyle and current residence in Saudi Arabia. The Ronaldo-Rodríguez engagement highlights the modern intersection of family law, wealth planning and international jurisdiction.

As family businesses grow in value and complexity, the impact of a marital breakdown can be significant – emotionally, financially and operationally. In Professional Adviser, Family Partner and Mediator, Katie O’Callaghan explains why pre-nuptial agreements are increasingly viewed as essential tools for business continuity and governance. From protecting shareholdings and preserving privacy, to preventing forced sales and family disputes, Katie outlines why responsible succession and business planning now often includes the ‘pre-nup conversation’.

Divorce can be one of the most underestimated risks facing a family business. From ownership disputes to frozen assets and destabilised succession plans, the financial and operational fallout can be severe. In IFA Magazine, Partner and Mediator, Katie O’Callaghan explores the legal blind spots many business owners overlook and outlines practical steps, such as Structural Legal Protections, to reduce the risks before issues arise.