Successive possessive words
In the following phrase, should the word "interests" have an apostrophe?
We favor inter-agency collaboration in order to ensure that our clients’ interests’ triumph.
I have been unable to convince myself either way. Any guidance, especially in a formal academic sense, would be greatly appreciated.
Solution 1:
No apostrophe is needed. "Interests" is the subject of the verb "triumph".
We favor inter-agency collaboration in order to ensure that our clients’ interests triumph.
If, on the other hand, you wished to ensure the triumph (as a noun) of the interests of your clients, it could be possessive:
We favor inter-agency collaboration in order to ensure our clients’ interests’ triumph.