The Deal by S&P Global

Vertex head of corporate development Nigel Rughani discusses dealmaking, sourcing and integration strategy on the buy side.

Dechert co-chair and PE and M&A partner Mark Thierfelder talks about embracing the intense nature of corporate practice, why lateral hiring is critical for his firm and his affinity for hobbies that force him to forget about work.

Jefferies vice chairman Lawrence Chu discusses the $23 billion AT&T-EchoStar spectrum deal and the strategic landscape for wireless, fiber and AI infrastructure.

University of Iowa finance professor Erik Lie discussed his pioneering research into options backdating, his new book Catching Cheats, and how forensic finance can detect hidden misconduct.

Bob Berkus, managing director on JPMorgan's investment banking team, discussed the firm's growing mid-cap unit and a strong pipeline of consumer and retail deals for 2026.

Latham & Watkins partners Christopher Drewry and Josh Dubofsky, global co-chairs of the firm’s shareholder activism and takeover defense practice, discussed the latest trends in investor insurgencies on the Activist Investing Today podcast with The Deal’s Ronald Orol.

Proskauer Rose partner Chris Ahn discusses how his time as general counsel at James Perse made him appreciate what clients want out of their lawyers and what he loved about being at a law firm. 

Jim Rossman, global head of shareholder advisory at Barclays, analyzes the effect of an Exxon retail investor voting program as well as record levels of activism.

True Beauty Ventures co-founders Rich Gersten and Cristina Nuñez discuss building a sector-focused venture firm, their portfolio strategy and the state of beauty M&A.

Thoma Bravo general counsel Steven Schwab discusses the appeal of being an in-house lawyer, the differences between working at a trading firm and a PE sponsor and the issues he's thinking about now.

Lazard Managing Director Chris Couvelier discusses shareholder activism trends, Exxon's robo-voting program, and M&A-driven campaigns with The Deal’s Ron Orol.

On the latest episode of Behind the Buyouts, Arenova Capital founder and managing partner David Li discusses applyinga private equity principles to the creative business of visual effects for Hollywood and beyond.

Managing director Dan Lee discusses his work advising special committees on conflicted transactions and building a career experience by experience.

Jennifer Broder, an M&A partner at Baker & McKenzie in Los Angeles, discusses clerking for Leo Strine, working as an associate for Bob Denham and how presiding over a mock trial in third grade helped set her on a path to becoming a lawyer.

White & Case's Richard Brand suggests that passive investors, other institutions and academics should develop best practices for corporate bylaws seeking information about an activist's director nominations, as the matter right now is left to the courts to decide.

Elizabeth Cooper, the head of private equity at Simpson Thacher, talks about transitioning from M&A to PE as a young partner and how advising Blackstone on the Refinitiv deal transformed her career.  

Dan Litowitz, the U.S. deputy co-head of M&A at A&O Shearman, discusses what he's learned from watching his clients integrate acquisitions that he's applied to the merger of Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling and work he's done for Paramount.

Oak Hill Capital's managing partner Scott Baker walks listeners through the firm's 11-year investment in Metronet Inc., an early mover in the push to spool fiber to homes throughout the country.

Scott Bok, the former chairman and CEO of M&A boutique Greenhill, discusses his career, his new memoir and the challenges of managing the highly ambitious people in finance.

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.