The Deal by S&P Global

Adam August, a corporate partner at Holland & Knight in Tysons, Va., discusses his work for companies that have the federal government as a significant customer and why he enjoys advising clients from formation to sale.

Kobre & Kim co-founder Michael Kim explains why the environment for activist investing in South Korea is improving, despite structural restrictions, and he discusses his work advising Putin critic Bill Browder.

Justin Abelow, managing director in Houlihan Lokey's financial sponsors group, discusses PE's resilience in navigating a challenging M&A environment and the alternate structures firms are pursuing for liquidity.

Schroders Capital's senior investment director of private equity Jeremy Knox discusses the growth in continuation funds in a tough exit environment, as well as the firm's interest in asset-light services businesses as a co-investor. 

Wachtell M&A partners Igor Kirman and Lina Tetelbaum discuss the evolution of their mentor-protege relationship over the past 15 years and how it's enriched their practices and their lives. 

Transact Capital managing director Justin Karr discusses the state of the consumer market in 2025, including private equity interest in contract manufacturing and better-for-you food. 

Real estate activist Jonathan Litt discusses concerns that REIT boards often identify distorted peer groups to justify problematic executive pay, as well as why specific directors at 15 REITs should face vote-no campaigns.

Gibson Dunn M&A partner Brian Scrivani talks about how he handles the stress of legal practice and the importance of maintaining a life outside of work, as well as how he thought about changing law firms. 

Cheryl Reicin, the co-chair of the life sciences group at Mintz, discusses how she became a biotech lawyer and why observing the Sabbath has been good for her as a lawyer. 

Andrew Shapiro, who ran an activist fund for 32 years, discusses how one campaign helped form his investment vehicle and talks about good and bad investor communication policies.

Brian Breheny, the former chief of the SEC's M&A division, discusses expected changes to regulations affecting activist investors, including why he thinks the nation's securities regulator can eliminate activist shareholder proposals.

Rick Giovannelli, the incoming co-chair of the management committee at K&L Gates, discusses the growth of private equity in Charlotte, N.C., over the course of his career and how his firm teaches lawyers to mentor and train the next generation. 

HCI Equity co-founder and chief investment officer Doug McCormick discusses the firm's approach to buy-and-build strategies in large, fragmented and stable markets as well as navigating the challenging M&A environment in 2025. 

Rob Kindler, an M&A partner at Paul Weiss, discusses his career as an M&A lawyer and banker, doing deals at Morgan Stanley and the importance of lifelong connectivity. 

When corporations install anti-activist poison pills they are less likely to implement new share buybacks and their operationally-focused capital expenditures tend to be higher, UC Berkeley School of Law professor Ofer Eldar explains.

Joele Frank discusses how she came to public relations and her approach to growing her own firm.

Solomon Partners head of business services Tim Shea discusses private equity's growing interest in residential and facilities services and dealmaking activity in the market in 2025. 

Bruce Goldfarb, CEO and president of Okapi Partners, discusses launching the proxy solicitor in 2008 and how the client service skills he learned working in his father's dry cleaning business are relevant on Wall Street.

Kimberly Petillo-Decossard, the co-head of M&A at White & Case, discusses building her career, her decision to change firms and how her husband's willingness to retire from his career as a banker has been pivotal to her success. 

TSG managing director Pierre LeComte dives into the consumer-focused firm's investment strategy.

William Regner talks about legal amendments enacted last month and what he learned from Debevoise's Meredith Brown.

A disclosure regime set up for hostile takeovers and tender offers needs to be completely revamped for today’s modern activism campaign environment, defense adviser Keith Gottfried explains.

Managing director Guy Barudin of Chardan Capital Markets discusses how the investment bank has navigated the SPAC sector. Guest hosted by Bill Meagher, senior reporter.

Scott Luftglass, an M&A litigator and vice chairman of Fried Frank, talks about mentorship, how he developed a specialty in Delaware corporate litigation and the proposed changes to the state's corporate law.

Mark McMaster, the global head of M&A at Lazard, discusses his career as a banker and his work with several companies that have created significant value by breaking themselves up.