Month: June 2023

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Dealmakers – the veterans edit

Karen Davies – Ashurst London corporate partner and global chair

Why did you decide to become an M&A lawyer?
It was law or medicine, and halfway through my science A-Levels I realised that reasoning and debate was where my passion lay. I’ve never regretted it. I was initially drawn to M&A by the buzz of the deals, but what has kept me there is the complex and strategic nature of what we do. You really have to know the clients, understand their business and the issues they face, and appreciate what they are trying to achieve if you want to be a successful
M&A lawyer. Continue reading “Dealmakers – the veterans edit”

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‘The wind was taken out of everyone’s sails’ – the M&A report 2023

2021 was always going to be a tough year to follow. Quite how tough, few could have foreseen at the start of 2022.

With global annual deal values totalling almost $6trn – a jump of more than 60% on 2020 – 2021 was roundly described in breathless superlatives. Following a year of pent-up demand during the pandemic, soaring levels of M&A activity were fuelled by the vaulting ambition of private equity (PE) houses, a surge in tech and pharmaceutical sector deals, and a boom in activity from special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). Continue reading “‘The wind was taken out of everyone’s sails’ – the M&A report 2023”

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Sponsored briefing: Recovering from a data breach and the role of legal experts

The data breach landscape is ever-changing and being aware of the latest threats is imperative for responding effectively to a data breach.

According to TransUnion’s recent researchi, IT professionals from UK organisations see phishing attempts as the most likely data breach risk in the coming years, with 47% putting it among their top threats. Hybrid and remote working – and the lower level of oversight on security that comes with it – were also named a top future risk by 36%. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Recovering from a data breach and the role of legal experts”

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Deals perspectives: Andy Ryde

Why did you want to be a deals lawyer and has it delivered what you expected?

I like to be at the hub of things, not on the periphery. I’m not the kind of lawyer who just likes to write things up – I prefer dynamic situations. I love the energy involved in transactions and the work has really suited me. The deals we do are transformational, so we end up meeting the most senior and talented people in companies. It’s a great privilege to be able to shape their deals. Continue reading “Deals perspectives: Andy Ryde”