Generously underwritten by SS&C Intralinks

William Jefferson Black, Executive Director, Transaction Advisors Institute

• 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?

• 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?

• 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?

• How has increased politicalization shifted the traditional antitrust decision framework?
• What is the current best practice for engaging with antitrust agencies?
• Which jurisdictions are significantly increasing their review processes?

• 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?

• 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?

• 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? 

• How can AI workflows accelerate target reviews and drafting?
• 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?

• 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?

• 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?

• How can agentic and gen AI reshape end-to-end M&A value creation and processes? 
• Where are the opportunities to leverage AI to refine the deal theses and post-close value creation? 
• Are there new applications for strategic planning, target screening, growth assessments, and integration design? 
• How can M&A accelerate adoption of AI into business operations to drive long-term structural advantage? 

Chine Mmegwa, Head of Strategy, Corporate Development & Operations, Match Group 

Howard Cheng, Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Development and Ventures, American Express

Rob Friedman, Senior Counsel, Compliance, ExxonMobil

Jeremy Cline, Director, Senior Corporate Counsel, Antitrust / Competition, Salesforce

Nick Hoffman, Associate General Counsel - Mergers & Acquisitions and Venture Capital, Koch

James Harris, Principal, Corporate Development Integration, Google

David Oskandy, Deputy General Counsel International, M&A and Strategic Initiatives, CDW

Saswat Bohidar, Associate General Counsel, Corporate Transactions Group, Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Galina Wolinetz, Head of Integration Management Office, Ford Motor

Miral Hamani, Vice President, Corporate Development Strategic Initiatives and Head of Integration, Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Christie Stahlke, Executive Director, M&A Integration & Separation, Corporate Strategy & Development, RTX Corporation

Jason Rothstein, Head of Mergers and Acquisitions Integration, Netflix

Saralisa Brau, Managing Chief Counsel, Antitrust, McKesson Corporation

Alison Heyden, Senior Counsel, Warburg Pincus

Chris McVety, Vice President, M&A and Corporate Strategy and Associate General Counsel, Ingredion

Mike Molnar, Senior Managing Director, Head of Corporate Development, Cetera Financial Group

Ken Park, Director - Head of HR M&A, Netflix

Kevin Yingling, Antitrust Partner, Freshfields

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. See photos from 2025

Credits: 9 CLE / 11 CPE. The Institute is accredited in Illinois. Reciprocity may be available.