Family Office Advisory

As a family office lawyer, Law & More advises families and their family offices on the corporate and contractual side of managing family wealth: structuring with a BV, STAK or foundation, governance, and the contracts behind investments. We work for Dutch families and for international families with assets or companies in the Netherlands, in Dutch and English. The first step is a free introductory meeting in which we map your current structure and your questions.

Clients rate Law & More 9.6 out of 10 on Klantenvertellen, the Dutch review platform (81 reviews, as of October 2026).

What can we help you with?

• Setting up or reorganising a holding structure with one or more BVs.
• Separating control and economic ownership with a STAK and depositary receipts.
• Choosing and setting up a Dutch foundation (stichting) for a family or private purpose.
• Drafting a governance framework: mandates, investment committee, conflict of interest rules.
• Negotiating share purchase agreements, co-investment and shareholders' agreements.
• Reviewing loan agreements, guarantees and real estate transactions.
• Handling registration duties, such as the Business Register and the UBO register.

Which legal structure fits a family office?

Most Dutch family office structures combine a private limited company (BV), a foundation for the administration of shares (STAK) and sometimes an ordinary foundation (stichting). The right combination depends on who should control the assets, who should benefit from them and how long the structure must last.

The BV as holding company

A BV is the most common vehicle for holding investments and operating companies. It can be incorporated without a minimum share capital, by notarial deed, and is registered in the Business Register of the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK). Shareholders are in principle not liable for the debts of the BV. Our page on company formation in the Netherlands explains the steps.

The STAK for control

A STAK holds the shares of a BV and issues depositary receipts (certificaten) to family members. The board of the STAK exercises the voting rights, while the holders of the receipts receive the economic benefits. Families use this to keep control together during a generational transition, or to prevent shares from being fragmented.

The foundation

A Dutch foundation (stichting) has no members or shareholders. Under Article 2:285 of the Dutch Civil Code, it may not make payments to its founders or board members, and payments to others are only allowed if they have an idealistic or social purpose. A foundation therefore suits some family purposes, but it is not a substitute for a trust. Dutch law does not recognise the trust as such, although foreign trusts can be recognised under the Hague Trust Convention.

Law & More does not give tax advice. Every structure has tax consequences, so we always work together with your tax adviser and the notary.

How do you set up governance for a family office?

Governance in a family office means clear answers to three questions: who decides, within which limits, and who checks. Write those answers down in the articles of association and in internal regulations, so they still work when family members or advisers change.

In practice, we draft board regulations with investment mandates and approval thresholds. For example, investments above a set amount then require approval of the shareholders or an investment committee. We also include conflict of interest rules. Under Article 2:239 of the Dutch Civil Code, a BV director with a personal conflict of interest may not take part in the decision. That rule becomes relevant when a family member co-invests privately in a deal of the family office.

Also consider continuity: who acts if a director dies or becomes incapacitated? A clause on absence or incapacity of directors in the articles, and powers of attorney that are kept up to date, prevent the structure from being blocked.

Which contracts matter for family office investments?

Direct investments are mostly documented in a share purchase agreement, a shareholders' agreement and sometimes a loan or convertible agreement. The protection you have as an investor lies in the warranties, indemnities and governance rights in those documents.

In a share purchase agreement, the warranties and specific indemnities determine who bears the risk of problems discovered after closing. In a minority investment, the shareholders' agreement should give you information rights, a say in important decisions and a way out, for example tag-along rights. Our guide on warranties, indemnities and escrow in M&A covers these mechanisms. For larger acquisitions, see our business acquisition lawyer page.

If the family office also manages money for people outside the family, check in advance whether financial supervision rules of the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) apply. That question depends on the specific set-up.

Which registration and transparency duties apply?

Dutch BVs, foundations and STAKs must register their ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) in the UBO register held by the Chamber of Commerce. Public access to that register was suspended in November 2022 after a ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union, but registration itself remains mandatory.

Banks, notaries and other institutions covered by the Dutch Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act (Wwft) will also ask for documents on the structure and the source of funds. A clear structure chart and up-to-date corporate records save weeks when opening an account or closing a transaction. More on the register is in our glossary entry on the UBO register.

How does working with Law & More work?

1. Introductory meeting: we discuss the family, the assets and your goals, free of charge.
2. Advice and cost estimate: we propose a structure or approach, coordinated with your tax adviser, with a cost estimate.
3. Approach and negotiation: we draft the articles, regulations and contracts, and negotiate with counterparties.
4. Completion: the notary executes the deeds, registrations are made, and you receive a clear overview of the structure.

What does a family office lawyer cost?

We work at an hourly rate of 250 to 350 euros excluding VAT for a lawyer and 300 to 400 euros excluding VAT for a partner. We discuss the rate and the expected time with you in advance. The introductory meeting is free of charge. A one-off advice meeting without further assistance costs 300 euros including VAT.

We do not work on the basis of legal aid. Subsidised legal aid exists through the Legal Aid Board (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand), but we do not accept cases on that basis. External costs, such as notary fees, Chamber of Commerce fees and court fees (griffierecht), are charged separately.

Who handles your case?

Family office matters are handled by Tom Meevis, founder and managing partner, and Ruby van Kersbergen, who both work in corporate law. You can read more about them on our team page.

Frequently asked questions

What does a family office lawyer do?

A family office lawyer advises on the legal structure, governance and contracts of a family office. That includes setting up BVs, STAKs and foundations, drafting articles and regulations, and negotiating investment agreements. At Law & More we approach this from corporate and contract law. We do not give tax advice, so we work together with your tax adviser on the tax side of each structure.

Can a Dutch foundation be used to benefit family members?

Only to a limited extent. Under Article 2:285 of the Dutch Civil Code, a foundation may not make payments to its founders or board members. Payments to others are only allowed if they have an idealistic or social purpose. Whether a specific family purpose fits within that rule requires careful drafting of the objects clause and the articles.

Is a STAK the same as a trust?

No. A STAK is a Dutch foundation that legally owns shares and issues depositary receipts to the economic beneficiaries. A trust is a common law concept that Dutch law does not have as such. A STAK can achieve some similar results, such as separating control from economic benefit, but the legal rules, duties and protection differ.

Do family members have to be registered in the UBO register?

Often, yes. Anyone who directly or indirectly holds more than 25 percent of the shares, votes or ownership interest of a Dutch entity usually qualifies as an ultimate beneficial owner. If no one qualifies, the senior managing officials are registered instead. The register is not publicly accessible at present, but competent authorities and Wwft-obliged institutions can consult it.

Do you also advise on investments abroad?

We advise on Dutch law and on contracts governed by Dutch law. When a family office invests in another country, we review the Dutch side of the structure and work together with a local lawyer for the foreign law aspects. This way the contracts and the holding structure in the Netherlands remain consistent.

How long does it take to set up a family office structure?

A single BV can often be incorporated within one to two weeks, once the notary has completed the identification checks. A structure with several entities, a STAK and governance regulations usually takes a few weeks to a few months. The timing depends mostly on tax advice, the complexity of the family arrangements and the documents needed for the Wwft checks.

In doubt about your position? Tell us about your situation via our contact page or call +31 40 369 06 80, or e-mail info@lawandmore.nl. We will let you know within one working day what your options are.

Law & More, Marconilaan 13, 5612 HM Eindhoven (+31 40 369 06 80) and visiting location Pietersbergweg 291, 1105 BM Amsterdam (+31 20 369 71 21). Available Monday to Friday 08:00-22:00, Saturday and Sunday 09:00-17:00.

This page provides general information and does not replace advice on your specific situation.