AFR Chanticleer columnists James Thomson & Anthony Macdonald will bring their popular podcast style to this opening conversation with leading M&A lawyers – we’ll gauge the mood, dive into deals and discuss what it takes to get them done in the current economic and regulatory environment. Finally, we’ll look forward – to what is on the horizon and what the future holds for dealmaking and capital markets – including the prospects for IPOs. 

• James Thomson, Chanticleer columnist, AFR  
• Anthony Macdonald, Chanticleer columnist, AFR  
• David Eliakim, Partner, KWM 
• Chelsey Drake, Partner, Allens 
• Amelia Morgan, Partner, HSF 

Our highly anticipated panel on Global M&A trends brings together senior global bankers from Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Centerview partners to discuss what’s happening in Global M&A, cross border dealmaking, sponsor-driven M&A and activism response, as well as asking – how might November’s US election change M&A?

Panel discussion facilitated by AFR’s James Thomson, Australian Financial Review, featuring:

• John Collins, Managing Director Global Head of M&A, Morgan Stanley
• Alison Harding-Jones, Global Head of Mergers and Acquisitions Managing Director, Deutsche Bank
• Amy Lissauer, Managing Director, Global Head of Activism and Raid Defense, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
• Alan Hartman, Partner, Centerview.

Today’s M&A landscape comprises of complex, and at times difficult stakeholders, which coupled with public processes, creates an interesting yet challenging role for target boards. Our panel discussion facilitated by Vijay Cugati, Partner, Allens, with leading directors and financial advisers, will explore the issues and key considerations that boards have navigated on some recent transactions in the Australian market.

Panel discussion facilitated by Allens partner Vijay Cugati, featuring:

• Scott Perkins, BCom, LLB (Hons), Independent Non-Executive Chair of Origin Energy Limited, Independent Chair of Woolworths Group Limited, Non-executive Director of Brambles Limited, Non-executive Director of the New Zealand Initiative, Chair of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research
• Robert Sindel, BEng, MBA,GAICD, FIEAust, IndependentNon-Executive Chair of Mirvac Group and Chair of Orora Limited
• Greg Peirce, Managing Director and Co-head of Global Banking APAC, UBS
• Kate Stone, Managing Director, Head of Corporate Finance, BofA Securities.

The drivers for long and complex deals and the related challenges they pose for dealmakers, investors and other stakeholders are not going away any time soon.  Join our panel facilitated by Nicole Pedler, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills, to explore how dealmakers have risen to the challenge to address these issues, featuring:

• Vivek Bhatia, CEO & Managing Director, MUFG Pension & Market Services
• Belinda Hickox, Executive General Manager – Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, Commonwealth Bank
• Peter McKerracher,Co-Head Energy, Resources & Sustainability, Barrenjoey.

We’ll take you inside four multi-billion dollar transactions from the last 18 months. Hear firsthand how the Newmont/Newcrest, Allkem/Livent, Alcoa/Alumina and Renesas/Altium deals got done and what dealmakers can take away from their success. KWM partners Will Heath and Antonella Pacitti are joined by: 

• Julian Peck, Head of Investment Banking, Australia and New Zealand, JP Morgan 
• Sam Weiss, Senior Non Executive Director
• Simon Mawhinney, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Allan Gray.