Family Office Architecture
We advise on the design of the family office operating model — defining scope, structure, governance, staffing and service architecture to create a professional platform that serves the family's full range of needs.
Architecture Scope
- Operating model scope & service definition
- Governance & decision-making framework
- Staffing model & external partner strategy
- Technology & reporting infrastructure
- Investment oversight integration
- Cost model & budget framework
Our Advisory Services
Operating Model Design
We define the scope of the family office — which services are delivered in-house versus outsourced, which family members and entities are in scope, and how the office relates to external advisers and the family's operating businesses.
Governance Framework
Family constitution advisory, investment committee structure, family council design and decision-making framework — creating the governance layer that enables the family office to operate with institutional discipline and family alignment.
Staffing & Partner Strategy
Advisory on the staffing model — which roles to hire internally, which to outsource to specialist partners (legal, tax, investment) — and how to structure the external adviser network for efficiency and accountability.
Reporting Architecture
Design of the family office reporting framework — consolidated family wealth reporting, investment performance, entity compliance and cash flow — presented in a format that serves both the family and professional advisers.
Cost Model Design
Family office cost benchmarking, budget framework design, cost allocation across entities and family members, and make-vs-buy analysis for each service — ensuring the office is cost-effective relative to its complexity and scale.
Investment Oversight Integration
How the family office connects with the investment function — whether internal, external or hybrid — including mandate design, manager oversight, performance reporting and the interface with the investment committee.
Built for Real Outcomes
The family office is the institutional expression of a family's wealth. When it works well, it extends the family's decision-making capability, provides professional oversight of assets, and enables the family to focus on what matters most.
When it works poorly — unclear scope, weak governance, wrong staffing model — it becomes an expensive source of complexity rather than a solution to it. We design family offices that are built right from the start.
Family Office Models We Design
- Single family office — dedicated to one family
- Virtual family office — coordinated outsourced model
- Hybrid model — core team with specialist partners
- Principal-led model — family principal at the centre
- Investment-led model — focused on portfolio management
- Comprehensive model — full scope including lifestyle services
Scope Questions We Help Answer
- Which services should the FO deliver internally?
- Which advisers should be external partners?
- How should investment decisions be made?
- How are costs allocated across family members?
- What reporting does the family need and how often?
Deliverables
- Operating model blueprint
- Governance framework document
- Staffing model & JD templates
- External adviser framework
- Reporting design specification
- Cost model & budget template
How We Work
Family Discovery
We understand the family's wealth composition, governance preferences, family dynamics and long-term objectives.
Model Design
We design the operating model, governance structure and service scope for the family office.
Staffing & Partners
We advise on the staffing model and external adviser selection and coordination framework.
Implementation
We support the build-out — governance documentation, reporting setup, partner onboarding.
Frequently Asked
Ready to Design Your Family Office?
Our team advises on family office architecture, operating model and governance for families across UAE, UK and Europe.