Unfortunately, disputes—and the need for conflict resolution—can be common when family members do business together. In their March 2006 Negotiation Briefings article All in the Family: Managing Business Disputes with Relatives, Harvard Law School professors Frank E.A. Sander and Robert C. Bordone recommend that family members who are thinking about doing business together take the following precautions, any and all of which might help the Kings resolve their dispute:

1. Prepare for complications.

By being aware of the web of relationships that are created when family and business intertwine, you can prepare to face them through careful analysis of interests and potential pitfalls.

2. Strive for transparency.

Before negotiating business matters with family members, open up a conversation with them about the challenges and issues raised by the negotiation.

Also discuss in advance the norms and procedures you will apply to any conflict resolution processes that become necessary.

“Addressing difficult issues up front can seem scary or time-consuming, but often it can make conflict and dispute resolution easier in the long run,” write Sander and Bordone.

3. Consult a neutral adviser.

When business negotiations with family members snag on contentious issues, consider raising the possibility of hiring a third-party neutral, such as a mediator, family therapist, or trusted friend. Thanks to their outside perspective, neutral parties may be able to help family members get to the heart of their problems through conflict management and negotiation.

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