Blog

< Go back

Family Business and Family Law

Navigating Complex Portfolios in Family Enterprise Mediation

A Case Study in Multi-Layered Financial, Corporate, and Estate Transition Planning Family enterprises frequently hold intertwined financial, operational, and legacy-planning structures—operating companies, holding entities, real estate, retirement vehicles, and cross-generational expectations. When conflict arises, the risks extend well beyond financial…

Read more ›

Beyond Settlement: Personalized Mediation for Family Enterprise Success

When families in business face conflict, whether over succession planning, governance, or financial decisions, the stakes are high. These disputes are rarely just about numbers or legal rights; they involve relationships, legacies, and deeply held values. Traditional settlement focused mediation,…

Read more ›

Reduce the cost of valuing a professional practice upon divorce using Collaborative Law

This article was published in Issue 37-12 of Money & Family Law Valuating a professional practice when there is a separation may be emotionally charged and costly because of the subjective nature of business valuations, especially professional businesses. Read more…

Read more ›

Top 10 List Of How To Protect The Business From A Marital Breakdown

Business owners who devote their lives to create a thriving business are ill prepared for family breakdown and divorce.  How do you address your biggest uncontrollable risk – a divorce?  The following Top 10 tips will help shepherd your family…

Read more ›

High net worth spouses and divorce – The Lawyer’s Daily

This article was originally published by The Lawyer’s Daily (www.thelawyersdaily.ca), part of LexisNexis Canada Inc. This article covers some of the legal issues facing families that enjoy a high net worth. More specifically, how gifts and inheritances are treated in…

Read more ›

The Rise of Gig Economy & What it Means for Divorce – Article Published in Family Lawyer Magazine

For family lawyers, the burgeoning gig economy & remote work have presented new challenges & complexities – particularly regarding how we determine support. As family law lawyers, we’ve witnessed many different scenarios among our clients as we shepherd them through…

Read more ›

The rise of the gig economy and what it means for divorce – Article in The Lawyer’s Daily

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the gig economy over the past year. As people started to re-evaluate their current work and lifestyle, businesses began to leverage the economic benefits of hiring more freelance and contract workers. So, what does that…

Read more ›

Collaborative negotiation is crucial for child and spousal support agreements in rising gig economy – Interview by Law Times

Income demands are more complex as people work unconventional hours: Family lawyer As the pandemic accelerates the gig economy with more freelancers and independent workers, determining income for child and spousal arrangements through collaborative negotiation or mediation is essential, says…

Read more ›

Wealth Professional: How advisors can bring calm and reason to divorcing business couples

Lawyer encourages trusted advisors to step in to help couples resolve issues before they go to court How can advisors help married clients who are divorcing if there’s a family business involved? Nathalie Boutet, owner of Boutet Family Law and…

Read more ›

‘Do not fuel the flame:’ serving family law clients struggling financially due to COVID lockdowns – Interview by Law Times

Divorce is a volatile and emotionally fraught task, whether in a global pandemic or not. When spouses are intertwined with shared businesses and investments, the value of which is being held down by COVID and its public health measures, lawyers…

Read more ›

Saving family businesses from divorce during COVID-19

The pandemic has already taken a toll on both the economy and marriages across the country, and now with a second wave, those numbers are likely to rise. In fact, one in seven small businesses are at risk of going…

Read more ›

Mitigating The Cost Of COVID-19 On Business And Marriage – CanadianSME

Small businesses play an essential role in employing Canadians across the country yet have been particularly impacted by Covid-19. In addition, the pandemic has been wreaking havoc on marriages and, for business owners, this jeopardizes not only their family but potentially many others who depend on the business for their livelihoods.

Read more ›

As COVID-19 weighs on marriages, what should business owners know?

With business closures, quarantines, and household isolation measures continuing throughout Canada and around the world, many couples forced into a common domestic situation for an extended period are finding their relationships tested. Family law experts predict an uptick in divorce…

Read more ›

Collaborative Law and Mediation for high net-worth families and business owners – Boutet on Advisor’s Edge

How can financial advisors reduce the cost of divorce and increase the value of their advice? Listen to the podcast discussion with Nathalie Boutet, hosted by personal finance expert Bruce Sellery. Prosper/Advisor’s Edge

How high net worth women are risking their future finances

Leaving important long-term planning and investment decisions to a spouse can end up being a potentially costly decision. Here are three reasons why. I recently came across research that revealed women worldwide are leaving long-term financial planning to their husbands,…

Read more ›

Shepreneurs: Keeping a Small Business Alive After Divorce – Boutet in Divorce Magazine

When it comes to keeping a small business alive after divorce, reducing the negative impact of divorce on yourself, your staff and the day-to-day operations is critical. This can be difficult to do without the proper knowledge.   Read the…

Read more ›

Getting divorced? Your business may be a moving target – Boutet In The Globe And Mail

Executives and business owners are accustomed to running the show but an upheaval in their personal life, such as divorce, can have a significant toll on their work, their employees and the business performance as a whole. For high net-worth…

Read more ›

Starting a Business with your Spouse – Boutet on AM 800

Nathalie Boutet is featured on AM 800 to discuss starting a business with your spouse.

Protect gifts toward a matrimonial home from divorce – Boutet on Advisor.ca

Often, parents want to help a child who’s getting married by contributing to the cost of the matrimonial home. This may be in the form of money for a down payment on a house, assistance with reducing the mortgage, or…

Read more ›

How parents can protect the family business if their children divorce – Boutet in The Globe and Mail

There are many considerations given to how couples can protect themselves and their assets from divorce, but what about their family members – specifically the older generation – whose assets may also be at risk? What can parents who started…

Read more ›

Make These Moves First when Divorce Strikes – Boutet on Advisor.ca

The early stages of a family breakdown often prompt unsettling questions for separating spouses. Most people want to minimize the disruption and protect their legal and financial rights. Often, they will begin a frantic search online for credible information about…

Read more ›

Tips for Teams Working with Family Enterprise Clients – Boutet on Advisor.ca

When advisors work in arranged teams with complementary skills, they may have developed a charter to define their roles and common goals, a code of conduct for communications, and a method for conflict resolution. They can then draw on these…

Read more ›

Conflict Resolution Strategies for Family Businesses

It is not simple to resolve conflict within businesses where people bring in different points of view, cultures and values. Resolving conflict within a family may be even more complex because the members have had a lifetime of interacting with…

Read more ›

Why business owners should avoid divorce court

The divorce court system is adversarial, expensive, time-consuming and open to the public — all reasons for family business owners to avoid it. It’s the most expensive process, it lasts the longest and nobody but the judge has control over…

Read more ›

Take the first step

Let us help you navigate this challenging time with expertise, compassion and strategic thinking.

Complete the form below or call us directly at 416-408-0444.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Wisdom. Guidance. Results.

32+ Years of Experience

With more than 32 years of experience as a lawyer and mediator, Nathalie has successfully assisted thousands of clients, helping them to achieve their goals with her expertise, compassion, and strategic thinking.

Committed to effective and respectful family dispute resolution

Nathalie has expertise handling all family matters including situations involving business owners, executives, and professionals; situations challenged by difficult personalities and complex personal and financial circumstances; and working with families facing addiction challenges.

Her commercial mediation services specialize in disputes within family businesses, and shareholders and partners disputes.

No-charge initial call

We understand you have questions and need guidance on your next step. We will contact you to schedule a brief initial call to discuss your situation and our services.