Claim OwnershipThe M&A Podcast: Deal or No Deal?
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As the world’s largest law firm, Dentons has established a national and international reputation as a leading advisor of M&A transactions. The Dentons M&A Podcast: Deal or No Deal, brings together lawyers with decades of experience closing mergers, acquisitions, and buyout transactions. Our team routinely represents strategic and financial buyers and sellers on a wide range of corporate transactions, including takeover bids (hostile and friendly), amalgamations, arrangements, and share and asset purchases. Recognizing that corporate transactions often involve cross-practice collaboration, this series features lawyers from litigation, tax and employment to explore the latest trends, challenges and strategies.
Tune in for insights, case studies, and the latest developments.
Tune in for insights, case studies, and the latest developments.
13 Episodes
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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, what they signal about deal readiness, and how parties can use them strategically to move negotiations forward.
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 framework of trust between parties,protect sensitive deal-information at the outset, andinfluence negotiation dynamics before the definitive agreement is signed.Whether you’re advising buyers or sellers, this conversation offers practical insight into why the NDA matters — and what you need to watch for to set your deal up for success.
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 Harris, Partner in Dentons’ Edmonton Tax Group, to unpack the most highly negotiated terms in a definitive agreement and the emerging trends shaping today’s M&A deal landscape. Together, they explore:Purchase price mechanics, escrows, adjustments and earn-outs,Representations, warranties, indemnities and insurance solutions,Pre- and post-closing covenants, conditions and emerging M&A trendsTune in for an insightful discussion on strategies that protect value and propel your transactions forward.
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 explore why preparation is critical to ensuring a smooth transaction process. Tune in as the group unpacks:tax considerations when evaluating deal structures,how structure impacts due diligence,navigating competitive vs. non-competitive processes, andwhy NDAs and LOIs are essential to deal success.CPD/CLE AccreditationThis program is eligible for 15 substantive minutes with the Law Society of Ontario.This program is eligible for 15 substantive minutes with the Law Society of British Columbia.
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 lead of the office’s M&A Group, and Mike Harris, Partner in Dentons’ Edmonton Tax Group, as together they unpack the pros and cons of asset vs. share sales, hybrid structures, amalgamations and reverse takeovers, and key tax considerations for buyers and sellers. Tune in to gain clarity on transaction design and set your deal up for success. CPD/CLE AccreditationThis program is eligible for 15 substantive minutes with the Law Society of Ontario.This program is eligible for 15 substantive minutes with the Law Society of British Columbia.
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, and the unique dynamics that set franchise deals apart—and uncover the latest trends driving investor appetite.
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 franchise model’s unique appeal, its regulatory landscape in Canada, and what makes it so attractive to buyers.
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 and how they can prepare themselves for a hostile bid pre-launch and post-launch.
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 and strategic challenges they face along the way.
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 involved in an M&A deal with a heavy emphasis on IP, this episode is for you.
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 Technology group and Bob Tarantino, Counsel in the Media, Entertainment and IP group, as they explore key IP risks, due diligence strategies, and how IP impacts deal value.Whether buying, selling, or advising on tech-driven transactions, this episode offers essential insights for today’s innovation-focused M&A market.
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 purchase agreement negotiations and highlights critical considerations for those exploring this coverage for the first time. Whether you're new to RWI or looking to sharpen your deal strategy, this episode delivers practical insights from our experienced team.
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 and relevant trends shaping the market. They dive into how the industry is maturing—particularly around standard exclusions—discussing what insurers are becoming more comfortable covering and where clients are pushing hardest for broader protection.
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