Perspectives: Lorenzo Corte

M&A Yearbook 2024

‘The deal was the most complete learning experience I could have ever hoped for’ – Skadden’s global head of transactions Lorenzo Corte on deal highlights and coming from a family of lawyers

Why did you decide to become an M&A lawyer, and has it lived up to expectations? My great grandfather was a lawyer, my grandfather was a lawyer, my father is a lawyer. I told my parents when I finished high school that I was considering a career as a doctor… you can imagine the reaction… …

To live or die in DC – getting deals done amid US antitrust crackdown

M&A Yearbook 2024

Elite US law firms are stocking up on antitrust expertise as the Federal Trade Commission cracks down on enforcement. Barnaby Merrill speaks to top practitioners about the current deal landscape and the key issues for clients under scrutiny

In many ways, the deal is the easy part. Financing in place, subclauses, choosing exactly the right type of pen to make things official, and there you have it – it’s announced. Your company intends to acquire another company – and at a great price! You’re confident this is a transaction from which the public …

Excess cash in a Belgian M&A context

M&A Yearbook 2024

Jérôme Terfve and Guillaume Charlier report on the treatment of excess cash in M&A transactions by the Belgian authorities

They say ‘you can have too much of a good thing’ and while cash is king, in a Belgian M&A context, this old saying turns out to be true. In the context of M&A transactions involving one or more individual sellers who are tax residents in Belgium, ‘excess cash’ has become a hot topic. This …

Perspectives: Jennifer Bethlehem

M&A Yearbook 2024

‘We were at the centre of a deal that was necessary to ensure global financial stability – the stakes don’t get higher’ – Freshfields’ head of consumer and healthcare Jennifer Bethlehem on deal highlights and having the personality for M&A

Why did you decide to become an M&A lawyer, and has it lived up to expectations? I became an M&A lawyer because I was instantly drawn to the pace and diversity that comes with being at the centre of a transaction – I don’t think my personality would work well not knowing everything about everything …

Life sciences and tech lead the way in UK M&A

Practice area spotlight: M&A

Simon Briggs, Jonathan Angell, Sean Geraghty and Andrew Harrow expect a post-Brexit dip in M&A activity, only for the market to rise again once the landscape is less uncertain

Please give us an overview of the current legal market in the UK and how any recent developments have impacted your practice? Our London M&A practice is a combination of UK and cross-border transactions, so our deal flow remains robust both in the corporate and private equity sectors. Brexit has had some impact on transaction …

Sweden’s M&A boom

Practice area spotlight: M&A

Swedish cityscape image

Erik Fahlgren, Carl-Johan Pousette and Marcus Tipner predict further growth in a country that is already experiencing an increase in work, both domestically and internationally

Please give us an overview of the current legal market in Sweden and how any recent developments have impacted your practice? The Swedish M&A market (both private and public) is booming and we have noticed a dramatic increase in our M&A practice. The use of M&A/W&I insurance continue to increase in the Swedish market, which …

The US drive to consolidation

Practice area spotlight: M&A

Cravath’s Richard Hall highlights the US market’s pursuit of size as a strategic imperative, and the challenge posed by rising nationalism and protectionism

Please give us an overview of the current legal market in the United States and how any recent developments have impacted your practice? The M&A legal market in the United States remains generally quite strong. Although transaction volumes are down slightly from a peak in 2015, the level of activity is still quite robust. Overall …

Russia’s tale of cautious optimism

Practice area spotlight: M&A

King & Spalding’s Sergey Komolov, managing partner, and Ilya Zotkin, of counsel, discuss the latest challenges facing M&A lawyers, including client expectations and the redistribution of market share

Please give us an overview of the current legal market in Russia and how any recent developments have impacted your practice? The legal market in Russia and, more specifically, the M&A practice area generally follow and are influenced by the relevant economic and political drivers. Political turmoil (including continued and worsening budgetary problems), geopolitical tensions, …

Seeing value in Vietnam

Practice area spotlight: M&A

Vietnam’s M&A market is on an upward trajectory. Frasers Law Company’s
Justin Gisz, Pham Thanh Mai and Nguyen Thi Minh Ha explain why

Please give us an overview of the current legal market in Vietnam and how any recent developments have impacted your practice? The legal market in Vietnam is stronger and more vibrant than ever before and is growing rapidly. The growth of the legal market is a corollary of the rapid development and expansion of Vietnam’s …

Listing rules boost to Hong Kong M&A

Practice area spotlight: M&A

Hong Kong skyline

Deals involving Chinese buyers are also likely to increase as a result of the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative, say Nicholas Davies, Vincent Chan and Alison Thomson

Please give us an overview of the current legal market in Hong Kong and how any recent developments have impacted your practice? The recent changes to the Hong Kong Listing Rules allow biotech issuers who do not meet the financial eligibility tests to be listed, and permit the listing of companies with “weighted voting right” …