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 transition work focuses on estate planning for the owners of family businesses. Larry helps families solve the myriad of estate planning challenges unique to family businesses, including: Holding everything together when the founder isn’t there • Showing how owners and managers get along (or don’t) when the founder transitions • Managing the estate tax burden • Keeping ownership within the family • Providing buy-outs of family members without crippling the business • Helping spouses with their role • Ensuring that the documents support the plan to transition the family business • Handling the varying interests that exist in today’s family environment (blended families, significantly younger spouses, adopted children, children out of wedlock, etc.).

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, The Balance Point: New ways business owners can use boards, 2008, Famille Press
• “Building a Resilient Transition Framework: How a Family Business Consultant Can Help an Entrepreneur with Succession,” FFI Practitioner, November 2008
• Co-author of the curriculum for The Board School, 2001 to Present
• Faculty, Family Firm Institute, 2005 to Present
• Presenter, Eide Bailly 29th Annual Bankers Seminar on Board Self-assessments, October 29 and November 5, 2009
• Presenter, Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises, “Family Businesses & Trustees. How the Two Can Co-Exist Effectively,” Charleston, April 2009
• Presenter, Family Business Network, “Aligning the Interests of Families, Owners and Managers,” Chicago, April 2009
• Presenter, Family Firm Institute (FFI), “A Board?  No Way!  Is a different response possible?” Boston, March 2009

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)