Also at Cornell Tech New York
M&A Academy | September 15 & 16
Join the Institute at the start of the week for the M&A Academy, an in-depth course that covers best practices in the deal process from strategy development through closing
Delivering Strong Transactions
M&A Conference at Cornell Tech New York
SEPTEMBER 16 & 17, 2026
$2,000 | $0 for Members Learn About All Access Membership Accounts
Exclusively for Corporate M&A Teams
This prestigious annual M&A conference assembles corporate development leaders, in-house M&A and antitrust counsel, integration teams, and private equity investors to discuss current challenges impacting complex transactions and consider innovative methods for improving the deal process and M&A performance.
The cross-disciplinary agenda will be unpacked by a diverse speaking faculty from various industries and roles, who will share first-hand experiences, best practices, and guidance on delivering high performing transactions.
DAY ONE AGENDA
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Welcome Lunch | 12:00 - 12:55
Opening Remarks on M&A Performance Improvement | 1:00 - 1:10
William Jefferson Black, Executive Director, Transaction Advisors Institute.
Crafting the M&A Strategy for a Volatile World | 1:10 - 2:00
How are leading acquirors designing an M&A strategy that works in today’s market? What unique approaches are being used to drive internal alignment and accelerate dealmaking? Are there new and novel methods for mitigating both known risks and unforeseen risks?
Approaching M&A Targets | 2:15 - 3:05
What are the most effective approaches for negotiating establishing agreements and preliminary financial terms? How detailed should an IOI/LOI be to ensure the best outcomes? What methods can be employed to re-visit core financial terms and other material deal points?
Innovations for Better & Faster Diligence | 3:25 - 4:15
How can diligence be accelerated through an optimal use of AI, external advisors, and data sampling? What IP diligence practices - such as code reviews and information security scans - should be standard? How much integration planning is appropriate ahead of deal approval?
Securing Antitrust Approval | 4:30 - 5:20
How are recent HSR requirements reshaping the corporate M&A process? What is the current best practice for engaging with antitrust agencies? Which jurisdictions are significantly increasing their review processes?
Wine Reception & Dinner | 5:30 - 7:00
The robust discussions will continue during the wine reception and dinner.
DAY TWO AGENDA
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Welcome Breakfast | 8:15 - 9:00
Start the day with a robust breakfast buffet as you connect with other corporate M&A professionals.
Streamlining Negotiations and Risk Allocation | 9:00 - 9:50
How can the balance of warranties, indemnities and other risk allocation mechanisms be optimized? What is the current market standard for closing conditions? How are break fees and other dispute resolution provisions changing?
Effectively Engaging Human Capital | 10:05 - 10:50
Who should be engaged when developing a cultural integration framework? How do you determine the pace of change an organization can endure? What adjustments are made in integration planning based on cultural due diligence findings?
Managing the Sign-to-Close Period | 11:10 - 12:00
How are interim operating covenants being structured to flex for slow close transactions? How are corporate M&A teams avoiding gun jumping while actively planning for rapid post-close actions? How should corporate M&A teams oversee working capital mechanisms and other closing adjustments to prevent gaming?
Lunch | 12:00 - 12:50
Building the Integration Framework | 12:50 - 1:50
When should the integration thesis and playbook be designed and confirmed? How do go-to-market teams effectuate and accelerate tough revenue synergies? What early cost synergy-capture opportunities should be prioritized to deliver quick wins?
Securing Critical Talent | 2:10 - 3:00
How are executive incentive structures evolving? What practices have proven most effective in retaining & engaging the broader workforce? How can earnouts or retention schemes be structured to align incentives and minimize unintended consequences?
Engineering Successful Divestitures | 3:15 - 4:05
What are the key planning, readiness, and organizational design questions that need to be tackled early? How are the most effective organizations managing through the sale process? What are the material TSAs and post-close considerations that need to be calibrated?
Applying AI in M&A | 4:20 - 5:15
Case study #1 | The Corporate Development use case
Case study #2 | The in-house Legal Counsel use case
Case study #3 | The M&A Integration use case
Closing Reception | 5:15 - 6:00
The Institute is an accredited provider of CPE and CLE in Illinois. This M&A Conference offers 9 CLE credits and 11 CPE credits. An Illinois certificate will be issued. If you are licensed in another state, please check for reciprocity regarding continuing education credits.
M&A Intelligence
Program Materials
Participants will receive both digital and print materials with more than 100 charts with information on recent shifts in deal volume, negotiation points, and best practices, including the selection below
Exclusively for Corporate M&A Teams
M&A Conference at Cornell Tech New York
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
12:00pm - 7:30pm EST
Thursday, September 17, 2026
8:15am - 5:00pm EST
$2,000 | $0 for Members Learn About Membership Accounts
Registration is not open to M&A consultants, advisors, vendors, or members of the media. Unqualified registrations will be canceled and refunded, less a $100 bank processing fee.