Family Businesses & Private Clients
Family-owned businesses and private clients play a central role in our economy. Gide has been working alongside them for decades, building a practice dedicated to their needs.
The ownership, management, and transmission of family businesses (listed or unlisted) raise specific and complex issues, often involving international aspects. They require top-tier legal and tax advice across a wide range of matters, delivered independently and confidentially.
Our practice has been specifically designed for family-owned businesses, family offices and private clients.
Drawing on this experience, we have pooled our expertise within a dedicated practice:
- rooted in the Firm’s century-long legacy;
- aligned with the values of our clients;
- bringing together French and international experts;
- combining in-depth expertise across all aspects of business and tax law.
Our approach respects the uniqueness of each family situation. We foster a tailored, creative and long-term approach.
Our understanding of the environment and challenges specific to family-owned businesses enables us to support them across all dimensions, addressing the specific needs of each stage of their development and of each generation.
Our extensive experience ensures bespoke service, aimed at helping them adapt their governance, safeguard their assets and plan for a successful transition to the next generation.
We are trusted by a diverse client base – from CAC 40 companies to family-owned SMEs– to which we provide a recognised expertise across numerous sectors and a wide variety of transactions.
Areas of intervention
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We work alongside families to nurture their affectio familiae and affectio societatis (implementation of family charters, preservation of family harmony, transmission and involvement of new generations, liquidity, management incentive and retention schemes, etc.). We are recognised for our ability to anticipate family conflict situations and for our command of the strategies needed to manage them successfully.
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We assist our private clients on a day-to-day basis, tailoring our approach to their specific generational and geographic considerations (inheritance, gift, international mobility, trusts and fiducies). Our tax team advises on all domestic and international tax matters relating to family businesses as well as to their executives and shareholders. It stands out for its in-depth knowledge of trusts and its ability to obtain tax rulings in the context of complex sucession matters.
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We assist private clients in managing their shareholdings as well as in safeguarding and diversifying their assets (personal holding companies, management of legacy assets, entry of external investors, internal liquidity arrangements, structuring of investment vehicles). Our team has extensive experience in investments in the wine and hospitality sector, as well as in the sale and donation of artworks. We also support family-owned businesses in their strategic transactions (acquisitions, mergers & exits).
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We support our private clients on all legal and tax aspects of their real estate transactions and investments, as well as in rental property management.
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We support our private clients in structuring and implementing management incentive plans (management packages) and, more broadly, capital-opening plans for the directors, managers, and employees of family groups (direct shareholding, dedicated vehicles and/or FCPEs, etc.). Our team has top-tier experience in these matters and an excellent knowledge of market practice in this area. It regularly tailors the envisaged plans and structures to the specific challenges of family groups (particularly in terms of the governance and liquidity of such plans).
Awards
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Legal 500 EMEA - France 2025
Real Estate
Tier 1
They have complete expertise in the entire real estate chain. They are very available for the client and work well under pressure." "The service provided is impeccable, commercially relevant, and aimed at deal realisation while ensuring client security and interest protection.
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Legal 500 EMEA - France 2026
Private Equity: LBO
Tier 2
A top-tier team demonstrating intelligence and offering the best expertise regarding management packages." "They are robust technically and are perceived to defend the management team's interests." The team's technical expertise and availability make them the partner of choice for CEOs.
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Legal 500 EMEA - France 2026
Real Estate
Tier 1
What makes Gide unique compared to other firms is the way they combine technical expertise with a practical, solutions-oriented approach. They strive to anticipate clients’ needs, adapt quickly to complex challenges, and provide clear, actionable advice.
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Legal 500 EMEA - France 2026
M&A: large to mid-market deals (above €100m)
Tier 2
Client focus, availability, immediate responsiveness, in-depth analysis of the client's issues and business challenges, strong commitment. The team acts as a facilitator and demonstrates great pragmatism in finding the most appropriate solutions and knows how to innovate when necessary. A highly collaborative approach.
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Legal 500 EMEA - France 2026
Tax
Tier 2
A top-notch team, excelling in technical aspects, relationships with various stakeholders, project management, and clarity. Excellent results." "Excellent technical skills, pragmatic and commercial approach to technical subjects with a genuine understanding of the commercial challenges of his client.
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Chambers Global & France 2026
Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
Band 2
Gide's team is multi-disciplinary and international, with an unparalleled pool of talent and great solidarity between the partners.
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Chambers France 2026
Tax
Band 3
The Gide tax team has broad and in-depth knowledge of [...]tax rules and regulations as well as market practice." "They stand out thanks to their impressive technical knowledge of taxation and macroeconomic issues, their ability to adapt to clients, which makes very technical subjects understandable, and their very high responsiveness.
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Chambers France 2025
Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability
Band 2
Gide are excellent at working through transactions that raise highly complex and novel issues and coming up with creative solutions." "Gide is a true full-service firm with high responsiveness.