This panel will discuss the current political and regulatory landscape with a focus on issues that commonly arise in the context of the roll out of and regulatory approval process for transactions. After completing this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand recent lobbying activities related to transactions
• Identify potential trends as midterm elections approach
• Identify the sectors that are under more scrutiny and the legal and economic theories that the agencies and politicians are using to evaluate them
• Discuss developments in the national security area relevant to mergers

In 2025, global geopolitical events had a profound impact on M&A dealmaking. Transacting parties also faced the possibility of governmental investments in private enterprise, high turnover among regulatory agency employees and a new wave of governmental lobbying opportunities.

In addition, even though private equity remained suppressed, M&A activism resurged, putting pressure on public companies to explore strategic alternatives.  The ability to properly advise companies, their boards of directors and special committees and to effectively negotiate M&A transactions requires detailed knowledge of the latest trends and developments affecting M&A.

This program will help you stay up to date on M&A activity and cutting-edge trends and developments regarding the impact of macro factors, M&A litigation, difficult negotiation and contractual issues, SEC disclosure matters, regulatory review of transactions, tax, compliance due diligence and other issues with important M&A implications. Panels that include some of the most experienced and sophisticated legal and investment banking professionals, members of the Delaware judiciary and the Chief of the Office of Mergers & Acquisitions at the Securities and Exchange Commission will discuss these and other developments.

What You Will Learn

• After completing this program, participants will be able to:
• Discuss recent trends in M&A
• Identify emerging issues in deal negotiations
• Identify and address potential conflicts of interest in M&A transactions