Getting to the Finish Line: Insights from Crafty Counsel's M&A Day
Complete Projects were thrilled to sponsor Crafty Counsel’s third edition of their M&A-focused event for in-house legal on 1st May.
Crafty Counsel regularly brings together in-house legal professionals from across the UK and EU for a day of practical discussions, shared experiences, and valuable connections. This year, the M&A Day agenda followed the structure of a deal - from CMA insights to due diligence strategies, M&A insurance considerations, and post-acquisition integration reflections.
On the day Keith Bottomley, our Head of Legal Structuring and Governance, took part in a panel on "Getting to the Finish Line", which focussed on how in-house legal teams keep the wheels turning and the risks in check during the signing-to-closing period. The signing-to-closing period can often be overlooked, but in reality, it’s where a huge amount of risk and complexity lives. It’s also the point at which in-house legal teams often find themselves taking on a central coordination role – trying to keep momentum high, manage shifting dynamics, and spot issues before they become real problems.
Key Takeaways for In-house Legal
Your coordination role becomes even more vital as post-exchange fatigue sets in be prepared to maintain momentum when others lose focus
Consistently enforce existing gun-jumping safeguards through completion, particularly in managing clean team protocols for integration planning
The relationship between buy-side and sell-side shifts during this period – foster collaborative problem-solving while still protecting your side's interests
Develop clear internal communication tools that keep workstreams aligned without creating information overload
Legal needs to be heavily involved in messaging protocols for both external and internal stakeholders - employees (whether staying or going) will be particularly focused on any communications
Remember it's all about people - keeping stakeholders informed with consistent, on-message communications prevents unnecessary anxiety and speculation
Signing-to-Closing Checklist
Following the discussion, the panel ran a practical workshop using a comprehensive Signing-to-Closing Checklist to work through a mock transaction. We developed this checklist as a clear, high-level tool designed specifically for in-house teams navigating the complex gap between exchange and completion.
Whether or not you have specialist M&A experience, it’s a useful guide to help steer deals through to success – covering everything from regulatory requirements to transitional services and key legal responsibilities along the way.
As we think this is an incredibly useful resource, we’ve decided to make it available for everyone, even if you didn’t attend the workshop.
Thanks to Crafty Counsel
Crafty’s M&A Day wouldn’t have been the success it was without the hard work of the Crafty Counsel team. Their ability to create welcoming, insightful spaces for in-house legal professionals is unmatched. If you’re part of the in-house legal community and haven’t joined Crafty yet, their events and resources are well worth exploring. Find out more at their website.
Why Complete Projects?
At Complete Projects, we specialise in delivering complex legal and cross-border projects. Whether it’s pre- or post-M&A work, legal structuring, or major transformations, our multidisciplinary team has the expertise to guide you through every challenge. Our approach combines hands-on delivery with practical solutions, helping you achieve your goals efficiently and effectively. From aligning stakeholders to tackling regulatory complexities, we’ll be with you every step of the way.
Ready to get started? Get in touch or explore our services and see how we can make your next project a success.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Coren is the Business Development Manager at Complete Projects, recently joining the team in April 2024. With over 5 years experience working in events and in senior leadership in the hospitality sector, Coren brings her creativity and unique outlook to the legal and project consultancy world. Coren is a first class BA English graduate from Queen Mary University of London.