Boardwave Debate Dinner - Silicon Valley M&As and what we can learn in Europe

Sponsored by: Wilson Sonsini, Francisco Partners and Rothschild & Co.

Hosts: Phill Robinson (Founder, Boardwave), Marty Korman (Corporate Partner, Wilson Sonsini), Anton Black (Partner, Co-Head of European Technology, Rothschild & Co.), Petri Oksanen (Partner & Co-Head of Europe, Francisco Partners), Richard Goold (Partner, Wilson Sonsini London)

What To Expect At A Boardwave Dinner?

The secret sauce to a really great networking dinner is the calibre people you meet, the quality of the discussion, which is interesting and thought provoking, and finally the dining experience, whether it's at a smart venue, or Michelin Star restaurant. If you bring all these things together everyone has a great time, learns a little and meets need friends and colleagues.

Mindset over Matter; Silicon Valley M&As and what we can learn in Europe

M&A deals are complex. That’s to be expected given the coming together of two or more sets of processes, systems and goals, and that’s before you merge cultures, teams and personalities, and accept your business is going to change as you know it. The involvement of complex legal, regulatory and financial considerations make the coming together of companies and the integration of established brands can be risky, even when the two parties are aligned on a combined and integrated future.

We tap into the experts at the heart of the biggest deals on the planet to understand how leaders can shift and adapt their mindset through this period of change to deliver the most positive experience and a transformative outcome. We will look at current buyer sentiment, managing a board through a deal in this environment, valuations, and 2023 deal dynamics in both Europe and the US.

This exclusive dinner for software leaders is organised in partnership with Boardwave, Rothschild & Co., Francisco Partners and Wilson Sonsini. and is focused on the current European and US M&A landscape.

Over dinner, guests will hear from:

• In conversation: Phill Robinson, Founder of Boardwave, talks to Marty Korman of Wilson Sonsini about his experiences as a top Silicon Valley deal-maker. Drawing from his most recent experiences as lead counsel to Twitter in its sale to Elon Musk and the sales of LinkedIn to Microsoft and Netsuite to Oracle. Marty will share comparisons of leading deals in the Valley versus Europe including why mindset matters through the negotiation period.
• Panel Discussion: Richard Goold will host a panel discussion on the current trends in M&A in Europe and the US, with questions from the floor. He will be joined by Petri Oksanen, Anton Black, and Marty Korman.