Overview

Behind every successful family business lies not just a visionary founder, but a legacy that must be protected, planned, and passed on. At Gallant & Toole Inc., we recognize that the transition of leadership and ownership in a closely held company is one of the most critical moments in a family’s legacy. Our Business Succession Planning service is designed to provide families and founders with a strategic framework to transfer control with confidence—while protecting both the enterprise and the relationships behind it.

Succession is not a transaction. It is a carefully curated process that balances emotional intelligence with legal precision. We work with business-owning families to ensure the values, reputation, and long-term viability of their enterprises are preserved, even as the faces and structures evolve.

Why Succession Planning Matters

In the absence of clear planning, even the most profitable and well-managed family businesses are vulnerable to leadership voids, shareholder disputes, tax inefficiencies, and operational disruption. Many family enterprises fail to transition beyond the second generation—not because of poor performance, but because of poor preparation.

A comprehensive succession plan:

• Protects the continuity of business operations

• Minimizes legal and tax exposure during transfer of ownership

• Prepares heirs and successors for leadership roles

• Maintains investor, employee, and customer confidence

• Aligns ownership with governance and estate planning frameworks
  

Succession planning is not just about exit—it’s about intentional continuity.

How Gallant & Toole Supports You

We approach business succession with the same strategic discipline we bring to global structuring and estate planning. Our process is collaborative, discreet, and always tailored to the unique needs of your business and family.

We offer:

• Succession Strategy Design We work with founders, boards, and family stakeholders to create a clear roadmap for leadership and ownership transition—whether to a family member, a management team, or external buyer.

• Next-Generation Readiness We assess the capabilities of potential successors, provide mentorship resources, and help define roles, responsibilities, and timelines for seamless handover.

• Ownership Transfer StructuringFrom equity gifting and buy-sell agreements to corporate reorganization and trust integration, we ensure ownership changes are tax-efficient and legally secure.

• Governance Model Development We design or refine family constitutions, shareholder agreements, and decision-making protocols to prevent conflict and preserve long-term alignment.

• Liquidity & Exit Planning For clients considering partial divestment or full exit, we assist in business valuation, liquidity event structuring, and reinvestment strategies that align with family goals.

• Coordination with Estate & Legal Advisors We integrate business succession with your broader estate, tax, and legal frameworks—ensuring harmony across entities, jurisdictions, and generations.

Who We Serve

• Entrepreneurial families preparing to hand over leadership to the next generation

• Founders and co-founders planning an orderly exit or equity transition

• Private company boards and C-suite teams navigating succession risks

• Family offices managing multi-entity ownership and operational oversight

• High-net-worth clients with ownership interests in privately held businesses

Why Gallant & Toole?

•  Discreet, high-level guidance for complex family-business ecosystems

•  Cross-border structuring and tax planning fluency

•  In-house legal and estate professionals for seamless integration

•  Long-term thinking that balances business health with family harmony

•  Trusted by legacy-driven leaders and multi-generational families
  

Our approach ensures that succession is not just a departure—but a well-executed handoff of vision, leadership, and purpose.

Honour the Past. Empower the Future. Transition with Intention.

With Gallant & Toole, business succession becomes more than a milestone—it becomes a strategic moment that secures the continuity of your life’s work and the future of those who inherit it.

📩 Schedule a Private Succession Consultation Contact Us