Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals
M&A Conference London
21 OCTOBER, 2026 | BOOTH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, LONDON CAMPUS
This prestigious annual M&A conference brings together corporate M&A teams to discuss current challenges impacting complex transactions and consider innovative methods for improving the deal process and transaction performance.
- Benchmark internal processes against global best practices
- Navigate the evolving regulatory and capital market landscape
- Span the gaps between deal parties to create transaction value
- Elevate deal team capabilities through shared line of sight
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER | 8:10 - 8:50
Welcome & Check-In
Light breakfast fare will be provided.
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER | 8:50 - 9:00
Opening Remarks
William Jefferson Black, Executive Director, Transaction Advisors Institute
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER | 9:00 - 9:50
Crafting the M&A Strategy for a Volatile World
- How are leading acquirors designing an M&A strategy that works in volatile market conditions?
- What should M&A teams consider as they navigate pressure for scale and corporate clarity?
- What unique approaches are being used to drive internal alignment and accelerate dealmaking?
Alexandra Calinikos
Chief Investment Officer
Financial Times
David Swinburne
Global Corporate Development and M&A Director
Diageo
Estelle Monod
Senior Vice President, Head of Group M&A
Schneider Electric
Alexis De Meaux
M&A Partner & Session Chair
Bain & Company
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER | 10:05 - 10:55
Navigating the Regulatory Landscape
- How is the CMA’s new merger control guidance and more narrower jurisdictional view changing the scope of the M&A pipeline?
- What recent procedural changes are accelerating reviews and how should deal teams prepare for early engagement?
- Are there effective methods and techniques for structuring deals that are subject to multiple competition authorities?
Molly Herron
Head of Antitrust and Associate General Counsel
WTW
Catherine Higgs
Legal Director, Ireland & UK Global Competition Law Head
GSK
William Turtle
Competition Partner & Session Chair
Slaughter and May
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER | 11:10 - 12:00
AI Accelerated Due Diligence and Integration Planning
- How can diligence be accelerated through an optimal use of AI, external advisors, and 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?
Karel Drastich
Head of Corporate Development
Associated British Ports
Ana O'Farrill
Head of Business Development, Minerals Americas
BHP
Ian Muir
Finance, M&A Executive
BAE Systems
Rajat Maaker
Managing Director, Accenture Strategy, Practice Lead for M&A/ PE & Session Chair
Accenture
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER | 12:00 - 13:00
Networking Lunch
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER | 13:00 - 13:50
M&A Governance and Executing at Speed
- How can M&A teams improve their deal readiness and speed target engagement?
- Which negotiation points and process steps can be standardized to remove execution bottlenecks?
- Can pre-authorized decision rights accelerate approvals, while maintaining public-grade governance?
Andrew Binstead
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development
IFS
Kashif Aslam
Head of Corporate Development UKI
Experian
Jenny Luckham-Maher
General Counsel - Corporate
Rentokil Initial
William Jefferson Black
Executive Director & Session Chair
Transaction Advisors Institute
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER | 14:10 - 15:00
Engaging Human Capital Effectively
- Who should be engaged when developing a cultural integration framework?
- How do you determine the pace of change an acquisition target can endure?
- What adjustments can be made in integration planning based on cultural due diligence findings?
Autumn Coleman
Vice President, Finance, Strategy & Corporate Development
BuzzFeed
Henrique Andrews
Director of Corporate Development and Head of M&A
Associated British Foods
Alex Moir
Director HR M&A
Cognizant
Konrad Deiters
M&A Advisory Partner, Europe and UK M&A Leader & Session Chair
Marsh
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER | 15:15 - 16:05
Managing the Sign-to-Complete Period
- How are interim operating covenants being structured to flex for slow close transactions?
- What should corporate M&A teams know to avoid gun jumping while actively planning for rapid post-close actions?
- How should dealmakers oversee working capital mechanisms and other closing adjustments to prevent gaming?
Cecilia Ferreira
Vice President, Legal: Strategy & Governance
Anglo American
Baljeet Panesar
Vice President, Legal Counsel, Global M&A
DHL Group
Sarah Landry Maltais
Vice President, M&A Business Partner for UK, Europe and Australia
CGI
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER | 16:20 - 17:10
Delivering the Deal Thesis
- When should the integration thesis and playbook be designed and confirmed?
- What early cost synergy-capture opportunities should be prioritized to deliver quick wins?
- How can go-to-market teams effectuate and accelerate tough revenue synergies?
Karen du Plessis
Vice President, Group Strategy and Corporate Development
Collinson Group
Emma Barton
Senior Director, Alliance and Integration Management
AstraZeneca
Eithne O'Riordan
Senior Director, Global Integration Lead
Zoetis
Chris Evans
M&A Conference Chair & Session Chair
Transaction Advisors Institute
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER | 17:10 -18:30
Closing Reception
Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals
The most prestigious annual M&A conference
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.
Global M&A Insights
More than 100 Corporate M&A Leaders
Extensive M&A Research
Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals
M&A Conference London
University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
1 Bartholomew Close, London EC1A 7BL
Wednesday 21 October, 2026
- Welcome Reception | 8:15 - 8:45
- Opening Remarks | 8:45 - 9:00
- M&A Conference Sessions | 9:00 - 12:00
- Lunch | 12:00 - 13:00
- M&A Conference Sessions | 13:00 - 17:10
- Closing Reception | 17:10 - 18:30
£1,150 | £0 for Members All Access Membership Accounts
Registration will be billed in USD at current exchange rates.
This program is not open to M&A consultants, advisors, vendors, or members of the media.
Unqualified registrations will be canceled and refunded, less a USD 100 bank processing fee.
The intelligence platform for corporate M&A teams
Corporate M&A teams tap into the Transaction Advisors Institute's intelligence platform and vibrant knowledge network when executing acquisitions, joint ventures, minority investments, and divestitures.
