The Deal by S&P Global

Richard Mansouri, who recently joined Arkhouse, discusses the phenomenon of companies replacing problem directors only when activists show up and why board members often just aren't independent.

Sam Danon, the managing partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth, talks about the importance of firm culture, what associates want out of a law firm and how building his litigation practice helped him establish credibility as a manager. 

Searchlight Capital partner Andrew Frey discusses the firm's investment in Ziply, its preference for backing existing telephone companies over greenfield fiber and trends in telecom deals.

American Securities president and managing director Scott Wolff dives into the firm's approach to investments and value creation, its specialty chemicals platforms and the industrial sector's slow recovery.

Carmen Lu, a partner focused on activism defense at Paul Weiss, discusses why one should never assume multiclass share companies are 'bulletproof' from activists, and she offers views on M&A and tech activism, plus white squire defenses.

Michael Gerstenzang, managing partner at Cleary Gottlieb, believes generative AI will fundamentally change the practice of law. Our conversation with Michael is the second in a four-podcast miniseries with law firm leaders.

Brightstar founder and CEO Andrew Weinberg discusses the firm's investment strategy for family- and founder-owned businesses and its focus on resilient industry verticals. 

Neil Barr, chair and managing partner of Davis Polk, talks about the logic behind the firm's 2020 change from lockstep compensation, his work for Comcast and why being a tax lawyer helped prepare him to run his firm. Our conversation with Neil is the first in a four-podcast miniseries with law firm leaders.

Franchise Equity Partners founder and co-managing partner Michael Esposito dives into the investment firm's growth since its launch in 2021; its investments in restaurants, residential services and the auto aftermarket; and M&A expectations for 2025.

Sanjay Murti, an M&A partner at Freshfields in New York, discusses how he approached being an associate, the grueling year before making partner and his decision to lateral to Freshfields from Cravath. 

Sagar Gupta, who oversees Anson Fund's activism activities, discusses why sector specialization is vital for an activist, and he also talks about recent campaigns at Twilio, Globalstar and Lionsgate.

John Bessonette, a partner at Kramer Levin in New York, talks about how he developed a practice that includes both M&A and restructuring and his firm's pending merger with Herbert Smith Freehills. 

Stephen Brown, senior adviser and managing director at KPMGa's Board Leadership Center, covers a number of topics, including why he thinks there could be unintended consequences to new limits on activist shareholder proposals.

Dave Perkins, the co-head of PE at Cravath, talks about being called up from the U.S. Army Reserve to serve in Afghanistan as a young associate and how he approached building a PE practice at his law firm.

Aaron Suh, an M&A and PE partner at Morgan Lewis and managing partner of the firm's Philadelphia office, discusses how he approached changing firms and cities and the deep influence his father has had on his approach to his career.

Founder and president John Ferrara dives into the middle market investment bank's growth over two decades and his expectations for dealmaking in 2025. 

Joel Friedlander talks about how he came to focus on plaintiff-side work in the Delaware courts and the enjoyment he gets from writing about and teaching law as well as practicing it. 

Corporate defender and Skadden partner Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman discusses what motivated her decision to move away from defending activists, as well as tactics that backfire, settlement subcommittee pros and cons and governance vulnerabilities.

Houlihan Lokey global head of outdoor, active lifestyle and tactical industries Nathan Pund discusses his expectations for M&A in the categories in 2025.

Keith Townsend, an M&A partner at King & Spalding and co-head of its corporate practice, discussed how he developed business development skills as a young partner and how his firm thinks about its practice mix.

Expert network platform Inex One owner Max Friberg discusses why activists and others retain expert networks ahead of insurgency campaigns. 

Katten's Mark Solomon discusses the evolution of family offices over the past generation and how the Dallas economy has changed since he started practicing law in the city in 1985.

Ilan Nissan, head of private equity and M&A at Goodwin Procter, discusses how he developed and maintains his practice and why he enjoys advising PE sponsors on succession issues.

In the most recent episode of Drinks With The Deal, Randi Lesnick, co-chair of the corporate practice, discusses key deals in her career and issues that AI raises both for law firms and for companies doing deals.

Gores Group's Senior Managing Director Mark Stone discusses the private equity firm's approach to the SPAC market and his perspective on recent developments in the sector as well as Gores' very successful de-SPAC of Twinkies maker Hostess Brands. Guest hosted by Bill Meagher, senior reporter.