The lazy days of summer seem to be behind us as merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is getting a jump start. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal cites late July/early August as having “the highest-volume week for mergers and acquisitions for U.S. companies since 2021, according to LSEG.” This is an unexpected,
As a practicing M&A attorney representing both strategic acquirers and venture-backed targets, I have had a front row seat to the fundamental transformation of Silicon Valley’s exit landscape. The rise of acquihiring represents more than a market trend, it’s an evolutionary response to capital scarcity, talent wars, and regulatory uncertainty that demands sophisticated legal frameworks
Friends,In last month’s newsletter, we discussed how investor expectations for initial public offerings (IPOs), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and fundraising were shifting amid heightened volatility, geopolitical tension, and a surprise tax overhaul, signaling a new paradigm for venture capital (VC) in 2025.This month, we explore early signs of recovery in the innovation economy, as recent
Executive SummaryThe IPO market is showing encouraging signs of recovery in 2025, with 201 companies going public year-to-date compared to 225 for all of 2024. While deal volumes are increasing and aftermarket performance is strong, average deal sizes remain smaller than historical norms. Key sectors including AI, fintech, crypto, and defense tech are driving investor
Silicon Valley is built on the promise of innovation, but for the better part of the past three years, the innovation economy has been in a coma. It all started with runaway inflation triggering the biggest hike in the price of money in a century. The era of “zero interest rate policy” and “quantitative easing”
Friends,In last month’s newsletter, we discussed how nontraditional investors have been shifting their focus toward late-stage startups, and how climate-tech companies have been adapting to a tougher fundraising environment by exploring alternative markets.This month, we take a closer look at how venture capital (VC) investors are recalibrating their strategies in response to shifting global
Friends,In last month’s newsletter, we discussed how escalating tariffs were impacting liquidity options for growth-stage startups and examined the sustained dominance of artificial intelligence within global venture investing.This month, we look at how nontraditional investors are shifting their focus toward late-stage companies, and how climate-tech startups are adjusting to a tougher fundraising environment by
After two decades practicing law in Silicon Valley and five formative years working on cross-border deals in Europe, I’ve come to appreciate the subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences in how merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions are structured on either side of the Atlantic. For buyers and sellers on opposite sides of the divide, these can be
Friends,In last month’s newsletter, we discussed the potential impact of newly announced U.S. tariffs on the venture capital (VC) landscape and explored how rising costs and new tariffs could pressure startups, particularly those in the technology sector, and slow demand later in 2025.This month, we continue to focus on the growing impact of market uncertainty
This article by Louis Lehot originally appeared on Law360 on April 14, 2025: A Look At M&A Trends In An Uncertain Deal EnvironmentIn the best of times, mergers and acquisitions are inherently complex. When uncertain global conditions such as financing hurdles, high inflation, unfavorable interest rates and geopolitical conflicts are added to the mix,