Synopsis

Whether you are an experienced or aspiring M&A practitioner, this session is packed with best practices and advice on managing M&A transactions. Ben Slager and Kareen Zimmer discuss client care and relations, managing client expectations, billing practices, marketing, time management, and more. 

About the Speakers

Ben Slager is a business lawyer with over 25 years’ experience representing clients on M&A, private equity, angel and venture capital transactions, and a host of other complex business law matters, including shareholder disputes. Ben is also an active investor, and is currently on the Board of several tech-based companies, is the Chair of Nanozen (industrial (including mining and pharma) real-time, wearable air particle monitoring) and has, for over 10 years, been the Chair of Tiger 21 Vancouver (North America’s preeminent peer learning group for successful, active entrepreneurs who are stewarding personal wealth of $20MM and greater).

Clients include business owners and entrepreneurs, investors (including angel investors), private and public companies, limited partnerships and trusts, venture capital and private equity funds, investment banks, governments and subordinate public agencies. Ben has practiced in the areas of information and life sciences technology, food production, power generation, transportation (including work with rail carriers, commercial ferries, airlines, shipping and bus fleets), mining, book publishing, heavy construction, manufacturing (OEM), professional services, large scale agriculture, forestry, wholesale and distribution.

Kareen Zimmer is a corporate and business lawyer, providing practical and timely legal advice to Canadian, American and international clients in mergers & acquisitions, complex commercial transactions and regulatory matters. Her experience includes private equity investments, cross-border transactions, public private partnerships, joint ventures and corporate reorganizations. Kareen's practice spans a variety of sectors, including insurance & other financial services, infrastructure & transportation (bridges, rail and ports), lotteries & gaming and manufacturing. Kareen provides regulatory advice to financial institutions. She works with credit unions, banks, insurance agencies, insurance companies and trust companies, in matters relating to:

• Mergers and acquisitions, permitted investments and ownership structures
• Creation of new products/services and consumer protection
• Outsourcing arrangements and services agreements
   

With a special interest in crown corporations and governmental bodies, Kareen provides advice on high-profile and sensitive matters, including governance issues, asset acquisitions and divestitures, public-private partnerships, complex services agreements, and alternate service delivery arrangements.