Chris Hastings, Ceri-Ann McGraa and Ian Tetsill discuss the current M&A market trends and the market predictions for the future Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Financing growth in uncertain times”
The team at Eversheds Sutherland discuss some of the key themes in the regulatory environment and how these are impacting M&A parties Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: The regulatory environment for M&A transactions”
The team at Eversheds Sutherland discuss data in M&A, joint ventures, and managing and leveraging data assets
Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Data as an asset – corporate M&A and joint ventures”
Sarah Turner and Stephen O’Reilly consider the issues the ‘S’ in ESG will have on M&A transactions
Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: M&A transactions and ESG: where are we now?”
Please see below for a link to an online pdf of the Deals Yearbook 2023. This will only be accessible to subscribers. Please make sure you are logged into the site to see the link.
Legal Business subscribers will be receiving their physical copies of the Deals Yearbook with Legal Business circulation.
Legal Business recently met with members of Aon’s UK transaction solutions team – the insurance broking arm of Aon’s M&A business – to learn how insurance-backed risk transfer solutions play an increasingly significant role in M&A deals, corporate reorganisations, tax, litigation and insolvency, as well as helping to unlock investment capital. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Access to capital: adding client value differently”
It’s been a busy week for US firms in London as they continue to exercise their hiring power, with several lateral moves across private equity, IP and financial services.
Reed Smith has bolstered its corporate practice with the hire of private equity partner François Feuillat, who moves from Willkie Farr & Gallagher and works across the energy, infrastructure, industrial and technology sectors. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: US firms continue hiring spree as Reed Smith and Sidley make moves on rivals in London”
A global pandemic, the war in Ukraine, soaring energy prices and inflation, as well as interest rate hikes significantly pushing up the cost of debt – it is no wonder M&A markets are struggling right now. Against this backdrop of instability, arguably the bigger questions are how activity levels managed to hold up for as long as they have, and how they have not crashed further.
But, while City M&A partners are keen to stress that things could be far worse, and point to pipelines of deals in place for when markets pick up (see feature), the differences between now and this time last year are stark. Continue reading “M&A veterans: Got the T-shirt – M&A Hall of Famers on closing deals in a crisis”
Easily the most enjoyable part about analysing the proposed merger of Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling has been hearing the reactions of leaders at peer firms around the City on the video featuring senior partners Wim Dejonghe and Adam Hakki on the new A&O Shearman website.
Hot-take reactions from the c-suite around the Square Mile have been telling and often amusing. Says one US firm leader: ‘It’s clearly not a merger, is it? It’s a takeover of Shearman by A&O, isn’t it?’ That is a point echoed by many, and it certainly does feel like A&O’s Dejonghe is in the driving seat of what is undeniably a very slick pitch, even if it does at times look like Hakki is in a hostage situation with Stockholm Syndrome.
Why did you decide to become an M&A lawyer?
It was law or medicine, and halfway through my science A-Levels I realised that reasoning and debate was where my passion lay. I’ve never regretted it. I was initially drawn to M&A by the buzz of the deals, but what has kept me there is the complex and strategic nature of what we do. You really have to know the clients, understand their business and the issues they face, and appreciate what they are trying to achieve if you want to be a successful
M&A lawyer. Continue reading “Dealmakers – the veterans edit”
2021 was always going to be a tough year to follow. Quite how tough, few could have foreseen at the start of 2022.
With global annual deal values totalling almost $6trn – a jump of more than 60% on 2020 – 2021 was roundly described in breathless superlatives. Following a year of pent-up demand during the pandemic, soaring levels of M&A activity were fuelled by the vaulting ambition of private equity (PE) houses, a surge in tech and pharmaceutical sector deals, and a boom in activity from special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). Continue reading “‘The wind was taken out of everyone’s sails’ – the M&A report 2023”
The data breach landscape is ever-changing and being aware of the latest threats is imperative for responding effectively to a data breach.
According to TransUnion’s recent researchi, IT professionals from UK organisations see phishing attempts as the most likely data breach risk in the coming years, with 47% putting it among their top threats. Hybrid and remote working – and the lower level of oversight on security that comes with it – were also named a top future risk by 36%. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Recovering from a data breach and the role of legal experts”
Why did you want to be a deals lawyer and has it delivered what you expected?
I like to be at the hub of things, not on the periphery. I’m not the kind of lawyer who just likes to write things up – I prefer dynamic situations. I love the energy involved in transactions and the work has really suited me. The deals we do are transformational, so we end up meeting the most senior and talented people in companies. It’s a great privilege to be able to shape their deals. Continue reading “Deals perspectives: Andy Ryde”
During a busy week with the announcement of the A&O Shearman merger, news came that Shearman & Sterling has lost five partners to Ashurst in both the UK and Asia – around the same time the planned tie-up was made public.
London-based Shearman partners Sanja Udovicic and Julia Derrick have moved over to Ashurst to expand the firm’s global energy team along with three others based in South Korea and Singapore. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: Partners exit Shearman and A&O as merger is announced”
Herbert Smith Freehills has announced the launch of its new multi-disciplinary practice in Riyadh following the reforms made to the Saudi Code of Law Practice last year. Managing partner, Joza AlRasheed, will be joined by energy and infrastructure lawyer Alexander Currie and projects and project finance specialist Phil Hanson. They will work in union with HSF’s regional team, consisting of eight partners and 30 associates.
Before last year’s changes to the code, non-Saudi law firms were required to enter into a contract with Saudi-licensed lawyers in order to advise on Saudi law. However, under the newly reformed code, HSF was able to end its alliance with The Law Office of Mohammad Altammami (LOMAT) and reopen as HSF Riyadh. Continue reading “HSF launches Riyadh office in the wake of Saudi legal reforms”
In late March, Goldman Sachs analysts predicted that generative AI applications such as ChatGPT risked ‘significant disruption’ to 300 million full-time jobs, with lawyers among the most exposed. Continue reading “Legal tech: Assessing the leap from ‘shiny new objects’ to digital transformation”
Unperturbed by the somewhat damp weather conditions, the great and the good of the in-house community flocked to Enterprise GC and Syon House in April to enjoy a variety of stimulating plenary sessions, workshops, keynote speeches and roundtables, not to mention a glittering gala dinner in the great conservatory. Continue reading “Enterprise GC 2023: Gen Z debate among show-stealers at flagship GC event”
Nathalie Tidman, Legal Business and The In-House Lawyer: Is it an oversimplification to say that inflationary pressure, if it eases, will kick-start M&A again?
Eric Knai, Eversheds Sutherland: We have been having a lot of discussions with our clients but also with investment bankers, bankers and economists. They say that inflation is a factor, but only one of a number of factors that impacts M&A. Continue reading “Wrestling the bear – negotiating deals in the current market”
Litigation is increasing as ESG commitments and promises come under increasing scrutiny from activists, consumers and investors. It is a trajectory that will increase upwards, with the introduction of more ESG-related regulation and the proposed extension of the ‘failure to prevent’ remit.
In this roundtable, we asked some of the UK’s most prominent in-house lawyers to share their thoughts on trends in emerging legislation around ESG and examine how organisations can prepare for the further extension of ESG-related legislation. Continue reading “Fighting talk”
Douglas Alexander, Pinsent Masons: I will first contextualise and attempt to define ‘soft power’ because, it is more often discussed than defined, and in that sense, I should probably declare an interest. In addition to many roles I hold, I have been a senior fellow at the Belfer Center in the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard over the last six years, and Joseph Nye, who coined the term ‘soft power’, has been a colleague of mine. Continue reading “The Corporate diplomat: Debating the value of hard power vs soft power as a GC”
