The UK’s first course teaching legal services and advice for family businesses was launched yesterday (Thursday, 19 January) at the University of Strathclyde.
The elective class is teaching students the distinctive legal implications for family-run businesses, such as start-up, growth, succession and transfer of ownership. The course is one of many practice focussed electives being pioneered by the University as part of the new Diploma in Professional Legal Practice.
Strathclyde Law School academics will be joined in teaching the course by legal practitioners and members of the Scottish Family Business Association (SFBA). Areas it will cover include:
- resolution of disputes and mediation
- incentives for businesses’ non-family members
- funding of business.
According to SFBA, 45% of the UK's GDP is produced by family enterprises, 50% of Scotland’s private sector workforce is employed by family businesses and 25% of Europe’s 100 largest businesses are family firms.
Professor Leo Martin, Co-Director of Legal Practice Courses at Strathclyde Law School and a partner in the Glasgow law firm Giusti Martin said: “The launch of the family business law elective is another significant step to creating in Scotland a culture of highest-level service to family enterprises that I hope one day will be the envy of the world.”
Around 40 students have already signed up to take the class, which forms part of Strathclyde’s Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Practice. It complements a class on family business theory and practice, run by the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship in Strathclyde Business School.
Professor Martin will be joined in teaching on the course by Donnie Munro, Partner and Head of the Business Advisory department of Harper MacLeod LLP, who has written the materials for the course, and by Jamie Millar, partner with law firm Lindsays and past president of the Law Society of Scotland.
If you would like further details about the above please get in touch with Jamie Millar.
