Venture Visionaries – Angels, Demons and Other Relatives seminar

Drakopoulos Partner Petros Fragkiskos participated in the “Venture Visionaries – Angels, Demons and Other Relatives” seminar, organised by the Corporate and M&A and the International Private Clients and Family Law commissions of the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA), which took place in Berlin, Germany on 19–21 March 2026.

The seminar featured panels and discussions that delved into various aspects of venture capital transactions, assessing interactions and challenges with family office governance, family wealth preservation models, estate planning and alternative investments.

Petros moderated the panel “The Unique (Due Diligence) Challenges in Investing in a Family-Owned Startup”, which brought together distinguished international practitioners including Stéphanie Ernould (Founder & CEO of Impact Infinity Law Firm), Etienne Weryha (Senior Associate at GSK Stockmann), Lara Köster (Associate at GxG Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH) and Louise Fussy (Partner at Raue). The panel pulled back the curtain on the thrilling and often perilous world of due diligence when acquiring a family-owned company.

Whether on the company or investor side, the panel provided insights into how to identify red flags that never appear on a balance sheet, and how to navigate the delicate process of assessing a family’s legacy, managing sensitive succession politics and valuing intangible assets such as reputation and relationships.

The discussion also addressed the particular complexities that arise when investors assess family-owned businesses, focusing on the risks stemming from the commingling of family, wealth and corporate structures. Key due diligence areas such as governance frameworks, intellectual property ownership, financial arrangements and related-party transactions were given special attention, with the aim of equipping investors and advisors with practical tools to identify red flags and implement effective solutions.