On June 16 the international law firm organised Luxembourg’s first M&A Forum, bringing together leading professionals and C-levels. Catherine Di Lorenzo, partner and head of the IP, data and tech practice in Luxembourg tells us more about the event.
Your firm just hosted Luxembourg’s first M&A Forum. Why is now the right time to host this event?
The idea came from our Luxembourg head of corporate Fabian Beullekens and it was embraced by all our fellow partners because we have a lot more M&A deals in Luxembourg than most people might think and we have the expertise as well. There is a clear and growing market for it in Luxembourg which we wanted to highlight along with the different players active in the market. Add to that the fact that we can meet again in person, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity. The event has also been well perceived by our clients as more than 200 people have already signed up to be there in person.
What are the main topics that were discussed there?
We discussed several topics relevant to local actors and the local market but also perspectives on the international market from partners from other A&O offices. The idea of the event was to provide a platform for all M&A actors to exchange on trends and perspectives across many relevant sectors, and listen to specialists on employment law, ESG, sanctions, data and tech topics to name just a few examples. Big Four representatives and clients were also attending and sharing their experiences. The forum did not focus so much on purely legal topics but more on the practical aspects that one should think about when considering, planning and negotiating an M&A deal.
“[…] they should first consider the due diligence phase during which the investor will want to see what the risks are of investing in your company and determine the value of the business.”
Catherine Di Lorenzo, Partner & Head of IP at Allen & Overy Luxembourg
What should tech companies undergoing or considering an M&A be aware of?
It really depends on the nature of the M&A transaction. For instance, if a founder wants investors to invest in his or her company they should first consider the due diligence phase during which the investor will want to see what the risks are of investing in your company and determine the value of the business. So before thinking about this type of transaction you should make sure you are GDPR compliant and have your house in order. Also, you want to ensure you have all the necessary rights on the technology developed in-house. Lastly, the founder will also want to have detailed provisions in the investment documentation regarding control and governance and future sales of shares.
You’ve recently been awarded Benelux M&A Legal Adviser of the Year. What sets you apart from other Benelux legal firms?
I think one of the key differentiators is our full-service approach. We are the only Magic Circle law firm in Luxembourg – so the big originally London-based law firms – that has a partner-led full-service offering and which can advise its clients on all aspects of the law when it comes to M&A. And we have partner-led teams for all these different areas, meaning they are real experts in their field. We are also a fully integrated team, meaning we do not experience the same amount of friction that some law firms which have to collaborate with one another sometimes do. The client has a single point of contact throughout the transaction, including where the transaction covers other countries. Lastly, we have over 30 years of experience in this field with offices in over 40 countries so there will always be someone available who can give you the practical aspects and recommendations needed for a successful deal.
