Library

A walkthrough of an equity commitment letter, as well as an examination of their role in securing financing commitments and their specific implications in private equity mergers and acquisitions.

A look at typical sandbagging provisions, including pro-sandbagging and anti-sandbagging provisions. Also includes drafting tips and perspectives from ABA M&A Committee members Nate Cartmell from Pillsbury LLP and Lisa Hedrick from Hirschler Fleischer PC.

How to prepare for direct examination of a fact witness, so you can go into your prep session with a trial-ready outline. Includes how to cover affirmative points that you need to get in through the witness, how to neutralize negative points you expect on cross, how and when to use exhibits, and how to think about redirect. (Prepping the witness is covered in a different course.)

Covers strategies for excellent client service, including how to understand your client's role, structure clear advice, stay responsive, and build trust.

A comparison of the business models underlying litigation and transactional practices. Covers how each practice generates revenue, structures fees, manages staffing and costs, handles client relationships, and responds to economic cycles.

A summary of what a greenshoe option (or overallotment) is and how it works, including an overview of the process and the documentation involved when the option is exercised.

This track explores how private equity deals are financed, how management incentives are structured, and the strategies funds use to create value.

Explains three critical issues for a company as it goes through a bankruptcy case: the methods of financing available to the company, the process and procedure of bankruptcy litigation, and how contracts and leases are dealt with when a company goes through a restructuring.

The basics of due diligence and closings in M&A deals. Includes an overview of the diligence process, tips for conducting due diligence, the closing process, the differences between simultaneous and delayed closings, and guidance on drafting key closing documents.

Tips and strategies for working effectively with experts on your case. Covers how to prepare for direct of your expert, prepare your expert for cross, and conduct cross examination of the other side’s expert. Gives tips for maximizing your expert’s performance and steering clear of mistakes. Also discusses tricky ethical areas like privilege over communications and draft reports, as well as how to choose the right expert in the first place.

Covers due diligence for venture finance deals and the main economic and control rights negotiated in venture finance term sheets, plus how to make key calculations such as cap tables, pro forma cap tables, prices per share, pro rata rights, note conversions, dividends, and liquidation preferences.

Explains key legal, business, and drafting issues for the most common terms and provisions that appear in day-to-day commercial agreements. This track covers force majeure, indemnification, limitation of liability, notice, publicity, reps & warranties, schedules and exhibits, severability, survival, and term and termination provisions.