Tarlow Breed Hart & Rodgers, P.C. (TBHR) recently hosted a three day meeting in Boston of the International Business Law Consortium (IBLC), an international alliance of select law firms from North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Through the IBLC, its members cultivate legal knowledge and international professional skills to help them serve a global community and deliver independent legal counsel with effective transnational advocacy and representation. TBHR has partnered with IBLC member firms to assist its clients in a variety of international matters worldwide, including in France, Switzerland, Italy, China, Brazil, Mexico, Dubai, and Australia (see www.iblc.com for the full listing of countries and representatives).

Held in conjunction with Suffolk University Law School, the 3-day meeting of the consortium focused on "Real Life Challenges Facing the International Family Business." Les Charm, an adjunct professor at Babson College Graduate Business School, lead the group of 45 lawyers from around the world through a fascinating discussion on the business succession and family issues facing a family owned pharmaceuticals business located in Buenos Aires. Lauren Stiller Rikleen of the Rikleen Institute for Strategic Leadership in Boston presented on how business owners could more effectively address the challenges of the inter-generational workforce in different cultures around the world. Delegates presented on Special Challenges – Perspectives from the Middle East, Succession and Estate Planning for Family Business in the U.S., Integrating Family and Non-Family Employees, Managers and Officers – Perspectives from Europe, and Going Public – Can it Work For the Family Enterprise – Perspectives from Latin America. The concluding presentations included a Trade and Customs Law Workshop, Dispute Resolution Workshop and a Mergers/Acquisitions/Finance Workshop.

Jeffrey P. Hart and William R. Rodgers serve as the firm’s delegates to the IBLC.