A 2004 McKinsey study showed that a significant proportion of M&A deals fail to achieve projected synergies, and further noted that “most of the shareholder value created is likely to go not to the buyer but to the seller. Indeed, on average, the buyer pays the seller all of the value generated by a merger.” If you’re the seller, that’s fantastic news; if you’re the buyer, not so much. As a business lawyer, my role in the transaction is to keep you on the right side of these sometimes-harsh truths.
Dealmaking is exciting! It’s fun! I get it, I’ve been there. But the best corporate attorneys have an unflinching focus not only on closing and getting the deal done, but also on the “why” of the deal, based on a deep understanding of your business. This is my goal – understand why the deal makes sense to your business and your industry, and then get it done.