Key Takeaways
- • McDermott Will & Schulte Partner Craig Garvey is presenting at WTW's The Big Deal 2026 conference (April 29–May 1 in New Orleans), a cross-functional forum focused on M&A and private equity trends and deal structuring.
- • Garvey will participate in the panel "The New Playbook: Winning, Structuring & Exiting Deals in 2026" on April 30, addressing how competitive deal environments are reshaping buyer tactics, structuring approaches, risk allocation tools, and market terms.
- • The conference brings together industry leaders and institutional participants to explore evolving dynamics in M&A and private equity, including representations and warranties insurance policy scrutiny and claims severity trends.
- • The 2026 deal environment reflects broader market recovery, with private equity deal and exit values surging following 2025 momentum and high-profile megadeals.
Summary
McDermott Will & Schulte, a global law firm with deep expertise in corporate M&A and private equity, is actively participating in The Big Deal 2026 conference hosted by WTW (Willis Towers Watson) in New Orleans from April 29 to May 1, 2026. This annual gathering convenes cross-functional leaders, deal professionals, and institutional investors to examine trends reshaping the M&A and private equity landscape during a period of notable market activity and recovery.
Partner Craig Garvey will serve as a panelist on "The New Playbook: Winning, Structuring & Exiting Deals in 2026," scheduled for April 30. The panel will examine how intensifying competitive pressures in deal markets are fundamentally altering buyer behavior and deal execution. Discussion will center on innovative structuring approaches, evolving risk allocation mechanisms—including representations and warranties insurance—and shifting market terms that reflect current buyer and seller dynamics.
The conference agenda reflects broader themes in the 2026 private equity market, where deal and exit activity has rebounded strongly. Recent deal activity and market commentary indicate continued momentum in megadeals and structural innovations as sponsors and corporates navigate a more competitive environment. Participants will gain insights into how legal and risk frameworks are evolving to accommodate new deal terms and allocation of risk between buyers and sellers in an environment marked by increased scrutiny of large losses under insurance policies.
For institutional investors and alternative investment professionals, the conference provides a platform to engage directly with legal counsel and deal practitioners on the practical implications of 2026 market dynamics, including how deal structuring and risk management strategies are adapting to reflect current market conditions and regulatory scrutiny.
Partner Craig Garvey will serve as a panelist on "The New Playbook: Winning, Structuring & Exiting Deals in 2026," scheduled for April 30. The panel will examine how intensifying competitive pressures in deal markets are fundamentally altering buyer behavior and deal execution. Discussion will center on innovative structuring approaches, evolving risk allocation mechanisms—including representations and warranties insurance—and shifting market terms that reflect current buyer and seller dynamics.
The conference agenda reflects broader themes in the 2026 private equity market, where deal and exit activity has rebounded strongly. Recent deal activity and market commentary indicate continued momentum in megadeals and structural innovations as sponsors and corporates navigate a more competitive environment. Participants will gain insights into how legal and risk frameworks are evolving to accommodate new deal terms and allocation of risk between buyers and sellers in an environment marked by increased scrutiny of large losses under insurance policies.
For institutional investors and alternative investment professionals, the conference provides a platform to engage directly with legal counsel and deal practitioners on the practical implications of 2026 market dynamics, including how deal structuring and risk management strategies are adapting to reflect current market conditions and regulatory scrutiny.
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