In the final episode of season one of The Dealist, we go inside the transaction to explore the crucial roles M&A advisors and investment bankers play. From balancing risk and opportunity to guiding founders through one of the biggest decisions of their professional lives, this conversation reveals how these professionals create value throughout the deal process.

Host: Catherine Ford

Guests: • Arash Farin, CEO, Centerstone Capital • Jay Liebowitz, Managing director & co-founder, Centerstone Capital

Key discussion highlights • Balancing risk and reward to maximize opportunities while managing investor concerns • Breaking down commercial, operational and financial due diligence • Managing founders’ valuation expectations to reach fair deals • Using earnouts to bridge valuation gaps and close transactions • Exploring why deals are slowing down despite pressure for speed • Leveraging technology and AI while maintaining essential human trust • Career advice for those starting out in advisory

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• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealist/id1805660414
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zinlPsfd2xDuY10zdIBqJ
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/intralinks

Further reading

The Dynamics of Due Diligence, a report produced by SS&C Intralinks in association with Mergermarket and The M&A Research Centre (MARC) that explores the reasons behind the ever-expanding due diligence period in the past decade and reveals why those deals that have a “medium” duration in terms of timing are the most likely to succeed. Download here: https://www3.intralinks.com/the-dynamics-of-due-diligence-report?&utmcampaign=701pq00000ca6xu&utm_content=podcast-blog)

Discover how Intralinks DealCentre™ revolutionizes deal management with cutting-edge AI technology and smart solutions here: https://www.intralinks.com/products/dealcentre-ai?utm_source=podcast-platform&utm_medium=partner-referrals

GenAI has moved from buzz to real utility — and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is on the edge of its next big shift. In the Season 2 finale of The Dealist podcast, host Catherine Ford talks with Austin Corbett of Accenture and Jon Martin of SS&C Intralinks about the early signals of what’s coming, from the rise of agentic AI and smarter diligence workflows to the long-term potential for a digital twin that mirrors the entire deal process in near-real time.

Listen to learn:

• How next-gen technology is reshaping every stage of dealmaking
• What Accenture’s latest research reveals about AI’s role in the future of M&A
• How serial acquirers are investing in AI to accelerate value capture
• The ways AI will assist valuations, reduce wasted deal effort and support stronger decision-making
• How agentic AI could operate as an autonomous partner in the deal process
• Why a digital twin for M&A may be closer than many expect

*Subscribe to The Dealist **

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealist/id1805660414
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zinlPsfd2xDuY10zdIBqJ
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/intralinks

Timestamps

0:45 Introductions 2:15 Early-stage AI trends 5:30 AI’s competitive edge 7:04 Next-gen tech is reshaping every stage of dealmaking 7:25 Accenture research: AI will revolutionize how deals are done 9:56 Serial acquirers are investing in AI 12:27 AI’s impact now and in the future of M&A 14:00 How AI will help valuations 16:45 Upskilling deal teams to future-proof 19:43 DealCentre AI showcase 20:23 Agentic AI — an autonomous deal team member 23:38 AI will reduce effort on deals that won’t ever close 26:30 The most strategic teams will use AI to win 26:52 We’ve just scratched the surface of what AI can do in M&A 28:28: A digital twin for M&A

In this insightful episode of The Dealist, we sit down with Peter Emmi, a partner at Reed Smith based in New York City and a legal expert with a deep technical background, including a 17-year career as an engineer, researcher and dealmaker on the legal team at IBM.

Peter discusses the role lawyers play during the due diligence process in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), particularly as it relates to rapidly evolving technologies.

Reflecting on the collaborative nature of successful transactions, he shares a guiding principle: "[M&A] is supposed to be a win-win, and that's the way we try to approach it."

Listen to hear Peter's insights on:

• The highs and lows of performing diligence
• Engaging directly with technical experts to unpeel the onion of a target’s operations
• Best practices for using AI
• The importance of emotional intelligence
• Plus, hear a diligence war story you won't believe

Subscribe to The Dealist

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealist/id1805660414
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zinlPsfd2xDuY10zdIBqJ
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/intralinks

Further reading

The Dynamics of Due Diligence, a report produced in association with Mergermarket and The M&A Research Centre (MARC) that explores the reasons behind the ever-expanding due diligence period in the past decade and reveals why those deals that have a “medium” duration in terms of timing are the most likely to succeed. Download here: https://www3.intralinks.com/the-dynamics-of-due-diligence-report?&utmcampaign=701pq00000ca6xu&utm_content=podcast-blog)

“The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on M&A Deals—Part I” by Peter Emmi published in The Journal of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Law (Volume 8, No. 2; March-April 2025): https://www.reedsmith.com/en/perspectives/2025/03/impact-of-artificial-intelligence-ma-deals-part-i.

Discover how Intralinks DealCentre™ revolutionizes deal management with cutting-edge AI technology and smart solutions here: https://www.intralinks.com/products/dealcentre-ai?utm_source=podcast-platform&utm_medium=partner-referrals

Explore our INsights blog for more expert analysis and dealmaking trends. https://intralinks.com/insights

In this episode of The Dealist, we're joined once again by Professor Scott Moeller, founder and director of the M&A Research Centre at Bayes Business School, City, University of London — and former global head of corporate development at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank.

We discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming mergers and acquisitions (M&A) from the classroom to the boardroom — and how dealmakers at every stage of their career can build AI confidence and capability.

Key takeaways:

• How business schools are embedding AI literacy into M&A education
• Ways junior professionals can balance GenAI tools with human intuition
• How mid-level dealmakers can upskill through training and hands-on experience
• Why senior leaders need humility — and practice — to make AI work for them
• Where AI is headed next: due diligence, negotiation simulations, scenario planning and PMI

*Subscribe to The Dealist **

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealist/id1805660414
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zinlPsfd2xDuY10zdIBqJ
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/intralinks

Further reading Download 8 Ways GenAI Is Shaping Corp Dev, Legal and IT here: https://www.intralinks.com/resources/reports/8-ways-genai-shaping-corp-dev-legal-and-it?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=701pq00000zkdcr&utm_content=podcast-s2e4

What does it take for a private equity (PE) firm to transform a target from a deal thesis to a high-performing portfolio asset delivering returns for limited partners (LPs)? What advantages do PE firms have over their corporate counterparts?

In this episode of The Dealist, we unpack the playbook fund managers rely on to evaluate opportunities, manage risk and lay the groundwork for a successful exit — all beginning with rigorous due diligence.

Host Catherine Ford sits down with two seasoned industry experts:

• Paul Aversano, a managing director at Alvarez & Marsal
• Michael Hanigan, a partner at Gamut Capital Management

Together, they explore how diligence is evolving, how dealmakers are adapting to uncertainty and what strategies top PE firms are using to navigate complex transactions.

Tune in for insights on:

• Where the diligence process is getting sharper — and where it’s getting harder
• How PE teams separate noise from real risk in today's data-rich environment
• How PE firms build an exit strategy into their earliest deal stages

Further reading: The Dynamics of Due Diligence

Explore our INsights blog for more expert analysis and dealmaking trends. https://intralinks.com/insights

Subscribe to The Dealist

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealist/id1805660414
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zinlPsfd2xDuY10zdIBqJ
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/intralinks

Discover how Intralinks DealCentre™ revolutionizes deal management with cutting-edge AI technology and smart solutions here: https://www.intralinks.com/products/dealcentre-ai?utm_source=podcast-platform&utm_medium=partner-referrals

AI is transforming corporate development — from how deal teams identify targets to how they manage due diligence and post-merger integration (PMI). In this episode of The Dealist, Alessandro Cozzi, a director at Korn Ferry, and Ronjohn Dadd, senior director of product at SS&C Intralinks, discuss how AI is reshaping this critical business function across the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape.

Together, they explore how corp dev teams are applying AI to source smarter deals, accelerate due diligence and reduce risk — including how platforms like DealCentre AI are helping dealmakers work faster and with greater confidence. The discussion also touches on the evolving role of technology in dealmaking, how organizations can adapt their workflows to maximize the benefits of AI and which skills are essential for corp dev pros.

Listen to learn:

• How AI is changing corporate development strategies and streamlining execution
• Real-world examples of AI-driven efficiency — from deal sourcing and due diligence to board presentations
• How DealCentre AI and similar platforms enhance accuracy, speed and insight in M&A
• Why adaptability, data literacy and training are critical to AI adoption

*Subscribe to The Dealist **

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealist/id1805660414
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zinlPsfd2xDuY10zdIBqJ
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/intralinks

Further reading Download 8 Ways GenAI Is Shaping Corp Dev, Legal and IT here: https://www.intralinks.com/resources/reports/8-ways-genai-shaping-corp-dev-legal-and-it?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=701pq00000zkdcr&utm_content=podcast-s2e4

Welcome to The Dealist, your trusted insider's guide to navigating the complexities of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). This episode of the podcast explores how technology, particularly virtual data rooms (VDRs) and artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the due diligence process. We’re joined by two distinguished guests, Noah Waisberg, CEO of Zuva, and Prakash Kanchinadam, head of AI and analytics at SS&C Intralinks.

Together, they explore:

• The history and evolution of M&A, and the introduction of virtual data rooms as an essential tool for secure transactions
• Why VDRs are indispensable for managing today's complex deals, with their built-in security features and ability to handle vast volumes of data
• The role of AI in enhancing due diligence for dealmakers — from automating labor-intensive processes like document classification and redaction to identifying key contractual obligations
• The future of AI in M&A, its opportunities to reduce manual work and its limitations that highlight the continued importance of human judgment
• What the rise of agentic AI could mean for the future of due diligence
• Don’t miss out on this engaging discussion. Subscribe to The Dealist wherever you get your podcasts or visit our website to explore more episodes.

Host: Catherine Ford Further reading: The Dynamics of Due Diligence Explore our INsights blog for more expert analysis and dealmaking trends. https://intralinks.com/insights

Subscribe to The Dealist Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealist/id1805660414 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zinlPsfd2xDuY10zdIBqJ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/intralinks

Discover how Intralinks DealCentre™ revolutionizes deal management with cutting-edge AI technology and smart solutions here: https://www.intralinks.com/products/dealcentre-ai?utm_source=podcast-platform&utm_medium=partner-referrals

In this episode of The Dealist podcast, Gustavo Rugani and Savio Andrade of Machado Meyer Advogados share how the Brazil-based firm’s early adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) accelerated its digital transformation. In a country with a highly litigious culture — it’s home to more than 80 million lawsuits — AI and legal tech have become essential tools for sifting through vast amounts of data, automating routine tasks and driving efficiency.

Listen to learn how their firm is: • Building digital-first cultures that balance efficiency with safety, security and client trust • Turning massive amounts of publicly available data into actionable insights during M&A target research and due diligence • Using AI to automate repetitive, billable-hour tasks like document review and corporate minutes • Freeing up time to focus on strategic work, innovation and deeper client relationships

*Subscribe to The Dealist **

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealist/id1805660414
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zinlPsfd2xDuY10zdIBqJ
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/intralinks

Further reading

The Dynamics of Due Diligence, a report produced with Mergermarket and The M&A Research Centre (MARC), explores the reasons behind the ever-expanding due diligence period in the past decade and reveals why those deals that have a “medium” duration in terms of timing are the most likely to succeed. Download here: https://www3.intralinks.com/the-dynamics-of-due-diligence-report?&utmcampaign=701pq00000ca6xu&utm_content=podcast-blog