Thomas Yang Featured in Law360 Dealmakers Q&A

Akin Gump corporate partner Thomas Yang was featured in Law360’s Dealmakers Q&A series, which looks at hot issues pertaining to mergers and acquisitions, private equity, real estate and project finance. Among the topics he covered:

• The most challenging deal he has worked on: “One of the more difficult personal dynamics that you face as a dealmaker is a seller who was the founder of the target. … As the lawyer for the buyer or the seller within this dynamic, you must have the flexibility, awareness and demeanor to develop a relationship with the seller that is knowledgeable and deferential enough to not blow up the deal, but solid enough to withstand disagreements over key issues. More often than not, financial and legal issues are easier to resolve then emotional ones.”
• Upcoming trends or under-the-radar areas of deal activity he anticipates: “One thing that we are seeing a lot more of in M&A deals is the use of rep and warranty insurance. … As the market has shifted towards the sellers, rep and warranty insurance has become a way for certain buyers to help positively distinguish their bids in hotly contested auctions.
• Advice for aspiring dealmakers: “For young lawyers, it is important to remember that it is not a contest about how many negotiating points you win. It is much more important to make sure you know which points are the most important to each side and craft deals based on that knowledge.”

To read the full Q&A, please click here.