The M&A Podcast: Deal or No Deal?

In the Season 1 finale, hosts and National M&A co-leads Jason Saltzman and Danny Wakeling look back on a year of insightful conversations across the evolving M&A landscape and thank our guests and listeners for joining us. We wish you a happy, healthy, and successful holiday season — and look forward to welcoming you back for Season 2 in early 2026. Tune in, subscribe,...

Building on our discussion of NDAs, this episode takes the next step in the transaction timeline — the Letter of Intent (LOI). Host Jason Saltzman is joined once again by Michael Beeforth and Riley Dearden to examine how LOIs capture key business terms, manage expectations, and set the framework for definitive agreements. Together, they discuss how LOIs vary across private and public transactions,...

Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) may appear routine, yet in the M&A process they serve as a strategic cornerstone. In this episode, Jason Saltzman, Partner and National Lead of Dentons’ M&A Group has an insightful discussion with Michael Beeforth, Partner, Toronto Litigation & Dispute Resolution, and Riley Dearden, Partner, Calgary Corporate, as they explore how NDAs: establish the fra...

The definitive agreement is where the rubber hits the road. In this closing chapter of our private deal structure series, host Danny Wakeling, Partner and National Co-lead of Dentons’ M&A practice, is joined once again by Sarat Maharaj, Partner in Dentons’ Edmonton Corporate and Commercial Group, Simon Gauthier, Partner and Co-Lead in Dentons’ Montreal Corporate and Commercial Group, and Mike...

In the second episode of our Private deal structure series, host Danny Wakeling, Partner and National Co-Lead of the M&A group continues the conversation with Sarat Maharaj, Partner in Dentons’ Edmonton Corporate and Commercial Group, Simon Gauthier, Partner and Co-Lead in Dentons’ Montreal Corporate and Commercial Group, and Mike Harris, Partner in Dentons’ Edmonton Tax Group. Together, they...

In part one of our Private deal structure series, discover how to choose the right vehicle for your private M&A deal. Join host Danny Wakeling, Partner and National Co-Lead of the M&A Group for an insightful discussion with Sarat Maharaj, Partner in Dentons’ Edmonton Corporate and Commercial Group, Simon Gauthier, Partner and Co-Lead in Dentons’ Montreal Corporate and Commercial Group, and...

In part two of our Franchising M&A series, host Danny Wakeling, Partner and National Co-Lead of the M&A Group is joined by Helen Fotinos, a Partner in Dentons’ Toronto Corporate Group; Global Head, Franchising and Distribution; and National Lead of our Retail Group to explore the challenges and opportunities of buying or selling a franchise system. They explore due diligence, integration,...

In part 1 of our Franchising M&A series, host Danny Wakeling, Partner and National Co-Lead of the M&A Group is joined by Helen Fotinos, a Partner in Dentons’ Toronto Corporate Group; Global Head, Franchising and Distribution; and National Lead of our Retail Group to break down the fundamentals of franchising and explore why it’s a hot commodity in the M&A world. They discuss the franch...

In part two of hostile bids, Jason Saltzman, Partner and National Lead of Dentons’ M&A group, continues the conversation with Alex Farcas, M&A Partner and member of Dentons’ Canada Region Board, and Matthew Fleming, Partner and Co-Lead of the Securities Litigation group. Building onto the topics discussed in part one, they explore how hostile bids look from the target’s perspective an...

In this episode, Jason Saltzman, Partner and National Lead of Dentons’ M&A group, is joined by his colleagues, Alex Farcas, M&A Partner and member of the Dentons’ Canada Region Board, and Matthew Fleming, Partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group and Co-Lead of the Securities Litigation group. Together, they explore why some bidders pursue unsolicited takeovers and what legal...

In part two of our series on IP in M&A, Jason Saltzman, Partner and National Lead of the M&A group continues the conversation with Kristal Allen, Partner in the Corporate and Venture Technology group and Bob Tarantino, Counsel in the Media, Entertainment, and IP group. Together, they discuss cross-border IP challenges, third-party ownership, and key post-closing considerations. If you’re i...

As AI and technology reshape industries, intellectual property (IP) has become a critical asset in M&A deals. How can buyers ensure they’re acquiring the IP they expect, and what happens when the chain of title isn’t clear? In this episode, Jason Saltzman , Partner and National Lead of Dentons’ M&A Group has an insightful discussion with Kristal Allen , Partner in the Corporate and Venture...

In Part 2 of our series on representation and warranty insurance,  Danny Wakeling , Partner and National Co-Lead of Dentons Canada's M&A group, continues the conversation with  Riley Dearden , Partner and Calgary Lead of the M&A group, and  Derek Levinsky , Partner in Dentons’ Corporate and Insurance Group. This episode dives into how rep and warranty insurance can shape pur...

In this episode,  Danny Wakeling , Partner and National Co-Lead of Dentons Canada's M&A group, is joined by  Riley Dearden , Partner and Calgary Lead of the M&A group, and  Derek Levinsky , Partner in Dentons’ Corporate and Insurance group. The trio shares their insights on representation and warranty insurance, including key considerations for its use in transactions a...