The Dealist

In the final episode of season three of The Dealist podcast, we explore the evolving world of shareholder activism and corporate governance. We’re joined by Michael Vogele of Alliance Advisors and corporate governance expert Charles Elson , founding director, Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware and executive editor at large, Directors & Boards , to unpack the...

PwC partners Kevin Desai and Chris Rhodes join this episode of The Dealist podcast to explore how deal structures are evolving as capital markets grow more complex — and why sticking to the old playbook may now be the biggest risk. As Chris highlights, deal complexity isn’t something to avoid — it’s where opportunity lives. With new sources of capital emerging, dealmakers need to rethink how they...

The initial public offering (IPO) market is showing signs of life, but it’s a very different landscape from years past. In this episode of The Dealist podcast, presented by SS&C Intralinks, we explore what it really takes to go public in today’s more selective, fundamentals-driven environment. Host Catherine Ford is joined by veteran Silicon Valley lawyer Louis Lehot of Foley & Lardner LLP...

The most successful M&A deals start with a clear thesis —one grounded in what must be true for the deal to deliver value. Due diligence has been redefined as a result, shifting toward a more focused, thesis-led approach. And with that shift comes the end of traditional “desktop diligence.” As Kevin Desai , U.S. and Mexico Deals leader at PwC, puts it: “The old days of doing desktop diligence …...

Cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) dealmaking is back on the agenda — even as geopolitical tension and regulatory scrutiny remain high. In this episode of The Dealist podcast, Jannan Crozier , partner and global head of M&A at Baker McKenzie , shares what’s driving renewed optimism and how dealmakers can navigate the evolving landscape. The discussion explores how stabilizing inte...

In the first episode of Season 3 of The Dealist podcast, we're joined by Liam Stoker (Market Insights Lead, Reuters) and Todd Partridge (SVP of Marketing, SS&C Intralinks) to break down what’s shaping M&A as dealmakers look ahead to 2026. Drawing on fresh market data and real-world perspectives from the H1 2026 Global Dealmakers Sentiment Report , the conversation focuses on where M&A...

GenAI has moved from buzz to real utility — and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is on the edge of its next big shift. In the Season 2 finale of The Dealist podcast, host Catherine Ford talks with Austin Corbett of Accenture and Jon Martin of SS&C Intralinks about the early signals of what’s coming, from the rise of agentic AI and smarter diligence workflows to the long-term potential for a...

In this episode of The Dealist , we're joined once again by Professor Scott Moeller , founder and director of the M&A Research Centre at Bayes Business School, City, University of London , and former global head of corporate development at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank . We discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming mergers and acquisitions (M&A) from the classroom to the...

AI is transforming corporate development — from how deal teams identify targets to how they manage due diligence and post-merger integration (PMI). In this episode of The Dealist , Alessandro Cozzi , a director at Korn Ferry , and Ronjohn Dadd , senior director of product at SS&C Intralinks, discuss how AI is reshaping this critical business function across the mergers and acquisitions (M&...

In this episode of The Dealist podcast, Gustavo Rugani and Savio Andrade of Machado Meyer Advogados share how the Brazil-based firm’s early adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) accelerated its digital transformation. In a country with a highly litigious culture — it’s home to more than 80 million lawsuits — AI and legal tech have become essential tools for sifting through vast amounts of data,...

In Season 2, episode 2 of The Dealist , host Catherine Ford explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping deal privacy in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), accelerating due diligence, securing virtual data rooms (VDRs) and detecting breaches in real time while underscoring why human oversight remains critical in high-stakes transactions. Listen to gain practical insights into how AI can...

In this season two premiere of The Dealist , host Catherine Ford is joined by Jeff Haxer , a partner at Bain & Company , and Ken Bisconti , co-head of SS&C Intralinks , to cut through the misconceptions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The discussion also explores how AI is accelerating due diligence, reshaping virtual data room (VDR) analysis...

In Season 2 of The Dealist , Catherine Ford and senior M&A leaders cut through the hype to reveal how AI is reshaping M&A — from faster due diligence to sharper efficiencies and real competitive advantage. Discover where AI is taking dealmaking next when the first episode premieres September 2, 2025. Don’t miss these conversations. Subscribe to The Dealist wherever you get your podcasts. S...

In the final episode of season one of The Dealist , we go inside the transaction to explore the crucial roles M&A advisors and investment bankers play. From balancing risk and opportunity to guiding founders through one of the biggest decisions of their professional lives, this conversation reveals how these professionals create value throughout the deal process. Host: Catherine Ford Guests: •...

In this insightful episode of The Dealist , we sit down with Peter Emmi, a partner at Reed Smith based in New York City and a legal expert with a deep technical background, including a 17-year career as an engineer, researcher and dealmaker on the legal team at IBM. Peter discusses the role lawyers play during the due diligence process in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), particularly as it rela...

What does it take for a private equity (PE) firm to transform a target from a deal thesis to a high-performing portfolio asset delivering returns for limited partners (LPs)? What advantages do PE firms have over their corporate counterparts? In this episode of The Dealist , we unpack the playbook fund managers rely on to evaluate opportunities, manage risk and lay the groundwork for a successful e...

Welcome to The Dealist , your trusted insider's guide to navigating the complexities of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). This episode of the podcast explores how technology, particularly virtual data rooms (VDRs) and artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the due diligence process. We’re joined by two distinguished guests, Noah Waisberg , CEO of Zuva, and Prakash Kanchinadam , head of AI...

Welcome to the second episode of the first season of The Dealist , focusing on the critical topic of due diligence. Today, we’re turning our attention to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal leaks — why they happen, how they can derail transactions and what dealmakers can do to protect confidentiality throughout the M&A process. Together, we explore the difference between strategic and acci...

Welcome to SS&C Intralinks' new podcast, The Dealist , created exclusively for corporate and private equity mergers and acquisitions (M&A) dealmakers. In our first season, we're diving deep into due diligence, unpacking how to master the diligence process and drive smarter deals. For our first episode, "Advanced M&A Diligence Strategies: Elevating Your Framework," we're joined by Valer...