Introduction
Larry has extensive experience in helping families transition and continue their family businesses. Growing up in a family business, Larry learned first hand many of the benefits and challenges of being part of a family-owned company.
Larry’s family business work focuses on the myriad of business and tax challenges facing businesses today, including: Planning to meet the long-term goals of the business and its owners • Working with owners wanting to transition • Resolving disputes among owners • Assisting founders who want to sell their interests • Helping non-owner presidents work with owners • Training boards that are not working well • Guiding owners wondering if they should keep or sell • Working with businesses who have unexpectedly lost a key person and don’t know what to do • Limiting liability for owners and managers • Finding, training, compensating and retaining good people within the business • Managing difficult employees, owners, customers, or suppliers • Accessing cash for the business • Protecting products and processes from being stolen and used by competitors.
Education
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law, J.D., 1984
- South Dakota State University, B.A., 1979
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1984
Practice Areas
- Family Business
- Trusts & Estates
- Tax Planning & Business Organization
- Corporate Governance & Investigations
Selected Publications & Presentations
- Co-author, Balance Point: New ways business owners can use boards, 2008, Famille Press
- Co-author of the curriculum for The Board School, 2001 to Present
- Faculty, Family Firm Institute, 2005 to Present
- Presenter, “Having Your Cake and Eating it Too” How to achieve your personal financial goals without selling your business, Financial Service Providers (FSP) - Twin Cities Chapter, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 16, 2010
- Presenter, The Essential Program,
- Presenter, Webinar, “Trusting” The Use Of Trusts For Your Family Business, Prairie Family Business Association,
- Guest, The Peter McClellan Radio Show AM1570, discussing how founders can transition their business,
- Presenter, Sioux Falls Senior Leadership Affinity Peer Group, The Fundamentals of Using Trusts,
- Guest, The Peter McClellan Radio Show AM1570, discussing the challenges to transitioning the family business,
- Presenter, The Launching Pad, Core Knowledge Regarding Family Businesses, Family Firm Institute,
- Presenter, “Getting Your House in Order” Planning for the Transition of Your Family Business, Minnesota Bank & Trust, Edina, Minnesota, May 2009
- Presenter, Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises, “Family Businesses & Trustees. How the Two Can Co-Exist Effectively,”
- Presenter, Family Business Network, “Aligning the Interests of Families, Owners and Managers,”
- Presenter, Family Firm Institute (FFI), “A Board?
- “Building a Resilient Transition Framework: How a Family Business Consultant Can Help an Entrepreneur with Succession,” FFI Practitioner, November 2008
Professional Activities
- Founding member, The Family Business Alliance, a multi-disciplinary group of professionals who provide comprehensive, customized consulting services to families in business together
- Co-founder and teacher, The Board School (www.theboardschool.com), the country’s first school for owners, directors, and managers of family businesses
- Fellow, Family Firm Institute
- Chair, Family Firm Institute Curriculum Committee, 2007 to present
- Member, Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises
- Annual Conference Program Chair 2012-13, Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises
- Member, Prairie Family Business Association
- Member, Hennepin County Bar Association
Honors & Distinctions
- Recipient of the Family Firm Institute’s 2010 Interdisciplinary Award, recognizing outstanding achievement in the advancement of the interdisciplinary services to business families. FFI is the premiere international body for family enterprise professionals, July 2010
- Fellow status with the Family Firm Institute
- Author, The Balance Point (Famille Press, 2008)