The 2025 BizTimes M&A Forum delivered critical insights into the latest trends in buying and selling a company, featuring local leaders and professionals in the field, including Reinhart's Marty McLaughlin, Blake Knickelbein, Chris Rechlicz and Lindsay Neuens.
The region's must-attend event for staying abreast of developments in mergers and acquisitions, the M&A Forum drew more than 300 attendees this year. The firm's Corporate Law Practice co-chair, Marty McLaughlin, kicked off the day, reviewing critical topics as well as the firm's long-standing commitment to helping clients fully realize their M&A ambitions.
The morning keynote, "M&A From the Corporate Buyer's Viewpoint," featured detailed analysis and keen insights from Lisa Brown, Vice president – Corporate Development and Kyle Flanagan, Deputy General Counsel, Commercial Transactions, both at Generac.
Shareholder Blake Knickelbein was one of the five panelists on the following roundtable. Knickelbein spoke on a variety of topics, including options for a transition in ownership, the mission of a buyer, the stigma surrounding private equity companies, and "deal fatigue."
Reinhart's breakout session led by attorneys Chris Rechlicz and Lindsay Neuens, "Are You Running On All Cylinders? Mission-Critical Legal Trends to Ensure Your M&A Transaction Takes Off, " was very well attended. Their session explored the most significant legal considerations surrounding every M&A transaction.
McLaughlin is a shareholder and serves as co-chair of Reinhart's Corporate Law Department and chair of the firm's Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group, where he serves as outside general counsel to a variety of clients, collaborating across the Reinhart platform to offer innovative solutions in the areas of corporate finance, private equity, mergers and acquisitions and data privacy.
Knickelbein is a shareholder in Reinhart's Corporate Law Practice, where he counsels a broad range of clients on various corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, business succession planning, commercial contracting, corporate governance, entity formation and equity issuances. He has extensive experience working with closely held businesses throughout the succession planning process and regularly advises clients on business succession alternatives, including transfers to the next generation or to key employees, or a sale to a third party.
Rechlicz is a shareholder in Reinhart's Corporate Law and Banking and Finance Practices, where he provides legal counsel on a wide range of matters to banks, financial institutions, mezzanine lenders, equipment finance providers, private equity firms, portfolio companies and other borrowers. He guides his clients through a range of financing transactions, including acquisition, leveraged, secured, and unsecured, as well as asset-based, second lien, equipment, mezzanine, private equity, commercial, SBA, and real estate financing.
Neuens is an attorney in Reinhart's Corporate Law Practice, where she assists clients in achieving successful transactions by conducting due diligence, drafting transaction agreements and managing documentation and overall process. She is a detail-oriented and responsive legal partner, supporting both clients and fellow attorneys in closing mergers and acquisitions, as well as related matters.