Delivering Strong Transactions
M&A Conference London
16 JULY 2026
$1,500 | $0 for Members Learn About All Access Membership Accounts
Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals
This prestigious annual M&A conference assembles corporate development leaders, in-house M&A and antitrust counsel, 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.
AGENDA
Thursday 16 July 2026
Welcome Reception | 8:30 - 9:00
Crafting the M&A Strategy for a Volatile World | 9:05 - 9:55
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 known risk and unknown risks?
Securing Antitrust Approval | 10:10 - 11:00
How is the CMA’s new merger control guidance and more narrow jurisdictional view changing the scope of the M&A pipeline? What is the current best practice for early engagement with antitrust agencies? Are there effective methods and techniques for structuring deals that are subject to multiple competition authorities?
Innovations for Better & Faster Diligence | 11:15 - 12:05
How can diligence be accelerated with an optimal blend of AI, advisors, and sampling? What IP diligence methods (i.e. code reviews, information security scans, etc.) should be standard practice? What level of detail is optimal in crafting initial integration plans ahead of deal approval?
Lunch | 12:05 - 13:00
Streamlining Deal Negotiations and Risk Allocation | 13:00 - 13:50
How can the balance of warranties, indemnities and other risk allocation mechanisms be optimised? What is the current market standard for closing conditions? How are break fees and other dispute resolution provisions changing?
Building the Integration Framework | 14:10 - 15:00
When should the integration thesis and playbook be designed and confirmed? How can go-to-market teams effectuate and accelerate tough revenue synergies and establish stretch targets? What early cost synergy-capture opportunities should be prioritized to deliver quick wins and head-off value leakage? How are the most effective M&A teams tracking synergy delivery and working with institutional investors to level-set expectations?
Managing the Sign-to-Close Period | 15:15 - 16:05
How can corporate M&A teams avoid gun jumping while preparing for rapid post-completion actions? How should corporate M&A teams consider working capital mechanisms and other closing adjustments to prevent gaming? What practices have proven most effective in retaining & engaging the broader workforce while managing compliance with works councils?
Effectively Engaging Human Capital | 16:20 - 17:10
Who should be engaged when developing a cultural integration framework? How do you drive a strong cadence while balancing local employment protections? What adjustments are made in integration planning based on cultural due diligence findings?
Applying AI in M&A | 17:25 - 18:15
This session will drill into gen AI and agentic AI use cases. Applications for M&A will be shared including; strategic planning and market modeling, target screening and assessments of growth themes, market modeling and scenarios reviews, and integration assessments and risks.
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 Remarks on M&A Performance Improvement | 18:15 - 18:20
William Jefferson Black, Executive Director, Transaction Advisors Institute. 
Wine Reception | 18:20-19:00
Dinner | 19:00-20:00
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 Professionals
M&A Conference London
University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
1 Bartholomew Close, London EC1A 7BL
Thursday 16 July, 2026
08:30 - 19:00
$1,500 | $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 USD 100 bank processing fee.