Aird & Berlis Seminar Panel #1: How Does Direct Investing Fit Within the Mission and Objectives for Family Offices?

Josh Klein provides strategic legal counsel to corporate and individual clients on critical business matters, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital/growth equity transactions, corporate structuring and governance issues, employee equity and non-compete agreements, joint ventures and private securities placements.  Josh is considered a trusted advisor by closely held family businesses, assisting them by developing short- and long-term legal strategies for a variety of business and personal matters.  He works closely with families to optimize daily operational efficiency, position business structures and governance systems and tailor succession plans for seamless ownership transition from one generation to another.

Ken Tencer is CEO of Spyder Works, a full-service business consultancy based in NYC and Toronto, helping mid-market and larger companies to drive sustainable growth. Perhaps most relevant to today’s discussion, Spyder Works collaborates with the Business Families Foundation on the Intraprise program, engaging NextGen leaders in family businesses to develop and commercialize new opportunities. Ken is also the program’s Intrapreneur in Residence.  Ken completed a B.Comm at Carleton, a Master of Science in International Management at Boston University, and is pursuing a doctorate from ISM in Paris on intrapreneurship’s role in innovation.

Rob is President of SeaFort Capital, an investment company based in Halifax. Prior to co-founding SeaFort in May 2012, he was President and CEO of Clarke Inc. Rob previously practiced law in the Toronto office of Skadden, Arps, where he specialized in corporate finance and M&A. Rob holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (Scholar's Electives) from Western University, an MBA from the University of Toronto, and a Law degree from the University of Toronto. He is admitted to the practice of law in Ontario, Nova Scotia and New York. He has served as a director of several TSX listed companies.

Russ is a member of the investment team at Northwood and is primarily responsible for economic research along with investment manager analysis, selection, and oversight.

Prior to joining Northwood, Russ was the Senior Investment Officer for a single family office, where he was responsible for research and execution of external investments covering all major asset classes and geographies.

Before serving private clients, Russ was an investment professional working for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, and a management consultant at McKinsey and Company. He began his career as a Naval Warfare Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy.

Russ is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and a member of the Toronto CFA Society. He is certified as a Derivatives Market Specialist (DMS) and a Canadian Investment Manager (CIM) by the Canadian Securities Institute. Russ holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the Ivey School of Business at Western University, and an Bachelor of Arts Honours (BA Hons.) in Business Administration from the Royal Military College of Canada.