On 7 and 8 May 2025, the renowned annual STEP Alpine Conference took place at the Congress Kursaal Interlaken. Experts from academia and professional practice gathered to jointly discuss current legal and economic issues in the field of private wealth structuring. A particular focus was placed on the protection of family businesses, including their identity and core values.

As part of the panel discussion on the topic “Liechtenstein – A Role Model for Compliant Wealth Preservation”, Prof. Dr. Alexandra Butterstein, LL.M., shed light on the civil law instruments available in Liechtenstein for the secure, multi-generational preservation of family wealth.

In her remarks, she focused in particular on the foundation and the trust as key structures for wealth planning, as their versatile design options make them highly suitable as succession instruments for families and their businesses. Both legal instruments can be equipped with a tailored governance system that meets not only the individual needs of the settlor or trustee but also the interests of the beneficiaries and those of the business itself. In this context, the involvement of family members—such as in the form of a family council—is essential for effective governance. However, the extent to which rights are reserved for the various parties involved requires individual assessment and advice.