March Women - Women in M&A

On 12th November, we'll be hosting a roundtable discussion on Unlocking AI and Data in M&A: A Jargon-Busting Guide for Women in Dealmaking Hosted by Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, March Women members Emily MacDonald and Khyati Pal will co-lead the discussion over lunch, together with a special guest who will be sharing some case studies highlighting how data and AI is being used in M&A. Whether you are a regular AI user, or are just starting to learn how to navigate it, all abilities and knowledge levels are welcome.

We can now reveal the panel for our Autumn M&A update on 6th November. Hosted by Withersworldwide, the panel discussion will report from "the M&A trenches" and feature the following March Women members as panellists: •PE portfolio chair Karen Thomas-Bland •Grant Thornton UK LLP head of transactions tax Lucy Orhnial •Withersworldwide corporate M&A partner Victoria Rodley Hot on the heels of the budget announcement and following an intense period of M&A activity, this should be highly topical.

We're delighted to announce that FTI Consulting will be hosting our festive social this year - March members and guests are warmly invited to see in the Christmas season in style with us on 4th December. The highlight will be an optional Christmas wreath workshop, accompanied by a relaxed evening of festive food and drink, some pampering, and plenty of gift shopping opportunities. We can't wait to celebrate with our wonderful community.

Brilliant to see our members Katharina Dalka and Hannah Elliott in action at The M&A summit yesterday. Covering the topic of ESG due diligence in M&A, their session ticked all the boxes: ✅ insightful ✅ an actual conversation ✅ made what could be a dry topic interesting and relevant Very proud to be represented by them and to see our logo displayed all day alongside M&A stalwarts. It was then straight off to our mixer drinks reception hosted by Adams Street Partners - official photographs to follow but a couple of candid shots: ✅ Warm hospitality ✅ Stunning London views overlooking Hyde Park ✅ Surprisingly good turn out for a Monday night in the run up to the budget 😎

This month's Member Muse is Elizabeth Corcoran, Business Development Director for EMEA at Williams Lea. When asked what her biggest insight into the world of M&A is right now, she said: "Client work at Williams Lea often revolves around the ebb and flow of pre- and post-M&A activity. The past few years in the M&A market have been challenging with fewer deals getting over the line and decisions taking longer due to the backdrop of uncertainty. We are already starting to see more M&A activity and expect the upward trend will continue into 2025. In 2024, we saw a greater focus on reshaping business support models to incorporate AI and automation and rightsize support staff to meet fluctuating demands. When operational and resourcing strategies are under review, it can be a good opportunity to bring in a service partner to support existing teams, or transform the delivery of tasks such as pitch books, presentations, document production or general administration."

Whether you are looking to start your very own cellar full of rare gems, or just a delicious bottle to enjoy around the table with family and friends, the expert team at Lay & Wheeler will give you as much - or as little - guidance as you want at our Wine Tasting evening for Women In M&A. Enjoy a glass of champagne on arrival and networking ahead of tasting starting at 7pm Whilst you taste, Lay & Wheeler’s dynamic team of female wine experts will talk you through a selection of six wines from their portfolio. From 1854 onwards, Lay & Wheeler has been building relationships with wine lovers and wine makers. They sell wines by the single bottle, by the case, or even by the pallet: from France’s historic chateaux, to South Africa’s most dynamic producers, and everything in between. 

“A great event this morning! Really educational in a practical way and lovely food too”. Wonderful start to the day yesterday with a delicious breakfast at Manicomio and a session on the power of nutrition with Alice Mackintosh. Best selling author of The Happy Kitchen, Alice runs a thriving nutrition clinic and is the co-founder of EQUI LONDON LTD, an award-winning nutraceuticals business.* Alice was extremely engaging and, most importantly for a room full of busy women, full of actionable tips. Thank you Alice for the talk and for fielding such a wide range of questions during the Q&A afterwards. * and partner in our member benefits programme.

Meet anatome London - another one of our March member Benefit partners. Brendan Murdock, their founder, has always been inspired by the apothecaries of old, where herbal remedies, potions, and lotions supported health and wellbeing. With a background steeped in working with botanicals and essential oils, Brendan's passion for food, perfume, and skincare led him to a vision: to reinvent the apothecary for a new generation. anatome London expertly blend botanicals and essential oils to support emotional and physical wellbeing. Their formulations, rooted in science and historical wisdom, are available online, in their boutique, and in Selfridges. March members can find a generous member benefit for anatome London products within the March member area.

We’re excited to announce that our members Katharina Dalka and Hannah Elliott will be speaking at the highly regarded M&A Summit on 21 October. As part of our ongoing commitment to increasing visibility for women in M&A we were able to connect Katharina and Hannah with the summit organisers, ensuring their expertise is represented at the event. Use the code MAA1MW for a 20% discount on Summit tickets. Following the Summit, we’ll be hosting our first Women in M&A drinks mixer, where we’ll be welcoming male guests to join us for an evening of networking. Sponsored by Adams Street Partners, the event is open to all M&A professionals.

Last week we spent the evening indulging our creative sides - guess what painting we were putting our own spin on? It was surprisingly satisfying to load up a brush with a large dollop of paint and splodge it everywhere!* Thank you to Elizabeth B. and Aon for hosting, and to Paintvine UK for leading the session. (* potentially not technically accurate artist terms)