Emeraude, a Rogers-based multidisciplinary business firm and family office with two welll-known lawyers in leadership, launched Tuesday (Aug. 12) “with the goal of shaping Arkansas’ economic future,” according to a news release.
The company aims to support founders, businesses and preserve family legacies “at a defining moment in American economic history,” the release shows. About $124 trillion is expected to be passed from one generation to the next over the next 20 years.
The leadership includes Chairman Jim Smith, Vice Chair Rebecca Hurst, Managing Partner Graham Cobb and Managing Partner Kristin Baldwin.
Emeraude will convert “complexity into clarity” to help preserve “what matters” and advance purpose for families and founders. Emeraude will help companies scale with systems, strategy, and support that attract capital and build value. It will provide families with a platform to oversee their wealth, steward their legacy, and increase their impact and efficiency in daily operations. It will also offer strategic and civic advisory support to leaders, guiding them through policy, reputation, influence, and partnerships that align with their private vision and public impact.
Emeraude’s leadership team has decades of experience in law, finance, governance, policy, economic development and community engagement. They’ve partnered with companies from startup to maturity – delivering infrastructure, leadership and strategic guidance.
“For over two years, we have been working on shaping Emeraude to be an important participant in the sophisticated and substantial growth of Northwest Arkansas’ business and family offices,” Smith said. “Emeraude is built to meet this moment.”
According to the release, Emeraude is a different company from law firm Smith Hurst PLC, which was founded by Smith and Hurst in 2011. Smith Hurst continues to operate independently as a business and private wealth law firm. Still, the law firm and Emeraude will collaborate “when it serves the best interests of their mutual business and family office clients. The concept for Emeraude was sparked by insights gained through Smith Hurst’s legal work and by client demand, prompting Hurst and Smith to partner with Baldwin and Cobb to bring the vision to life.”
“For many families, the challenge isn’t just stewarding wealth — it’s aligning around it,” Hurst said. “Emeraude supports highly successful individuals and families as they grow, give and prepare the next generation.”
A board of strategic advisors comprising “respected and accomplished” businesspeople was formed to provide counsel to Emeraude, its partner companies and the families it serves, according to the release. Board members have experience in the C-suite, capital markets, digital innovation, venture capital, private equity, family offices and global philanthropy.
Emeraude is located at 5100 W. JB Hunt Drive, Suite 1020, in the Pinnacle Hills area of Rogers. Along with the company’s four partners, it has five additional staff members.