M&A Deal Dispute Resolution: Proactive Strategies

Evaluating ADR Alternatives and Crafting Merger Agreements That Minimize Post-Closing Litigation

Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar/teleconference with Q&A


Conducted on Thursday, October 21, 2010
Recorded event now available


This CLE webinar will provide attorneys with an overview of the risks and benefits of using mediation, arbitration or expert determination to resolve M&A deal disputes. The panel will outline strategies for negotiating and drafting key dispute resolution provisions in the merger agreement.

Description

Post-closing disputes are common in merger transactions, often resulting in expensive litigation. In recent years, parties have included dispute resolution provisions in M&A agreements to attempt to resolve disagreements through arbitration, mediation or expert determination rather than lawsuits.

Negotiating dispute resolution terms in merger agreements requires a thoughtful and strategic approach. Parties must evaluate the risks and benefits of the various dispute resolution alternatives, decide which rules will govern the resolution process, and determine the controlling law and venue.

Paying only cursory attention to dispute resolution provisions in merger agreements and/or using boilerplate language can result in ineffective approaches to resolving common post-closing disputes.

Listen as our authoritative panel—including a deal attorney, an M&A litigator and a dispute resolution professional—reviews the latest legal developments in M&A deal dispute resolution. The panel will examine the pros and cons associated with mediation, arbitration and expert determination, and provide strategies for negotiating and drafting key dispute resolution provisions in the merger agreement.

Outline

  1. Selecting the dispute resolution method (benefits and risks)
    1. Negotiation
    2. Arbitration
    3. Mediation
    4. Expert determination
  2. Negotiating and crafting dispute resolution procedural provisions
    1. Choice of law
    2. Choice of venue
    3. Interim relief
    4. Specific performance

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key questions:

  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of using ADR instead of litigation to resolve M&A post-closing disputes?
  • What considerations should counsel take into account when deciding whether to use arbitration, mediation or expert determination as a dispute resolution method?
  • What are some effective practice tips for buyers and sellers counsel when drafting and negotiating dispute resolution provisions in merger agreements?
  • What are some best practices for neutrals evaluating and deciding M&A post-closing disputes?

Faculty

Catherine B. Nelson, Senior Counsel
Foley & Lardner, Chicago

She focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, corporate finance and general corporate counseling. She has represented start-ups and mature companies in mergers and acquisitions, private offerings, venture capital and various other financing transactions, as well as general business law representation such as contract review and negotiation.

Vincent P. (Trace) Schmeltz, III, Counsel
Dewey & LeBoeuf, Chicago

He practices in the area of complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on securities, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and white collar criminal litigation. He has pursued and defended claims on behalf of auditors, investment banks, corporate boards and corporations. He is also brought into cases by clients to provide "second opinions" and assist with trial strategy.

Kevin D. Kreb, Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Chicago

He consults with clients regarding the resolution of disputes arising from merger and acquisition transactions, including purchase price disputes, earn-out disputes and breach of representation and warranty claims, through negotiation, arbitration and litigation. He has served in the capacity of expert witness and sole arbitrator/neutral accountant on numerous occasions.

Ordering

Online CLE - Audio Recording

Includes audio streaming of full program plus handouts (available 24 hours after live seminar).

CLE: Pre-approved for participatory or non-traditional/alternate format credit in: CA, HI*, NY*, WV*. Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, CO, GA, MO, MT, TX, VT, WA.
Upon request, also available in: CT*, FL, ID, KY, LA*, ME, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR*, SC, TN, UT, WI*, WY. If you are applying for credit in one of these states, make sure to select those states when placing your order.
(*Indicates that Strafford must report attendance.)

Online CLE Audio $297.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

How does this work?


Recorded Event

Includes full event recording plus handouts (available after live seminar).

CLE: Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, GA, HI, MO, MT, NY, TX, VT, WA, WV. Upon request, self-study credit is also available in: FL, ID, KY, ME, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for self-study credit in one of these states, contact Strafford CLE at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 35 or CLE@straffordpub.com.

Webinar Download (Slide Presentation with Audio) $297.00
Available three business days after the live event

How does this work?

DVD (Slide Presentation with Audio) $297.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

MP3 Download (Audio with Slide PDFs) $297.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

How does this work?

CD (Audio with Slide PDFs) $297.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

Webinar/Teleconference

Strafford webinars/teleconferences offer several options for participation: online viewing of speaker-controlled PowerPoint presentations with audio via computer speakers or via phone; or audio only via telephone (download speaker handouts prior to the program).  Please note that our webinars do not feature videos of the presenters.

Program Materials

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Program Materials

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CLE Credit

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Customer Reviews

The teleconference contained information that was relevant, useful and up-to-date.

Mark Hegedus

Spiegel & McDiarmid

Speakers were knowledgeable enough to talk about the subject matter in an easily digestible manner.

Daniel M. Cleary

Gotham Insurance/New York Marine & General Insurance

The speakers were tops in their industry.

Peter Danias

Kaye Scholer

The speakers were knowledgeable and presented useful information.

Karen Shaffer-Levy

Reed Elsevier

The panelists covered the topic well and in depth.

Andrea Mealey

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge

Finance Law Advisory Board

Anne Lee Benedict

Partner

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher

Mark N. Berman

Partner

Nixon Peabody

Willa Cohen Bruckner

Partner

Alston & Bird

Laura D. Richman

Counsel

Mayer Brown

Robert M. Stern

Partner

O’Melveny & Myers

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