Of Counsel
Frederic J. Marx
Mr. Marx's practice focuses on the sophisticated strategic planning needs of multigenerational families and entrepreneurs, their businesses and their philanthropic ventures.

Practice Focus

Mr. Marx's practice focuses on the sophisticated strategic planning needs of multigenerational families and entrepreneurs, their businesses and their philanthropic ventures. As general counsel he has overseen both their business planning and legal requirements, including overseeing domestic and international business ventures and oversight of other legal counsel. In the context of family owned and family controlled enterprises, Mr. Marx brings together three decades of business experience and expertise in assisting families in addressing the family related issues related to their efforts. For family owned or managed enterprises, Mr. Marx provides continuity planning structures and processes, helping families plan and implement solutions designed to survive over generations. Mr. Marx has also assisted entrepreneur and investor groups to form and operate investment funds to allow them to enhance and develop their investment objectives.

Mr. Marx serves as an independent director for family and owner managed enterprises providing sophisticated business planning experience and leadership that he has acquired over 35 years as an advisor and director. In this service, Mr. Marx brings cross-industry and international transaction expertise as well as unbiased advice.

Mr. Marx is also spearheading the Impact Investing activities of clients with a focus on combining the discipline of entrepreneurial ventures with the environmental, social and governance goals that are the objective of impact investing efforts.

Frederic Marx joined Hemenway & Barnes in 1984. He has served two terms on the firm's three person Management Committee, and as Practice Group Chair of the Business Law Group.

Representative Experience

  • Managing Director for investment fund engaged in national and international transactions.
  • General counsel to $200 million multigenerational family holding company.
  • Member of Board of Managers of international investment fund.
“Too often trustees and professionals lose sight of the family when working with family trusts and family businesses. The focus must remain on your family’s values and what you desire to pass to current and future generations. We help you identify your visions and strategies. We help you include current generations in the right business structures, including trusts or holding companies. And we help you establish family institutions to educate and communicate with the family as a group, including annual meetings and family forums. We offer you a wide range of tools combined with our experience to ensure that your family, as well as your family business, remains strong.”
— Fred's Comment on the Family and the Family Business