Buying the Team, Not the Company: Legal and Structuring Considerations in Acquihires
In today’s competitive talent market, companies are increasingly pursuing “acquihire” transactions — deals driven primarily by the acquisition of key talent rather than products, revenue, or standalone business value. While these transactions can move quickly and feel more surgical than traditional M&A, they present unique structuring, compensation, governance, and risk-allocation considerations for in-house legal leaders.
In this session, partners from Wilson Sonsini will explore the legal frameworks and structuring decisions that underpin talent-driven transactions, including asset vs. stock deal considerations, treatment of equity and incentives, IP assignment and cleanup, retention and employment mechanics, and potential hidden liabilities. The discussion will also examine the GC’s role in balancing speed, talent retention, and risk management while aligning internal stakeholders around strategic objectives.
Attendees will leave with practical guidance on how to approach acquihires thoughtfully, anticipate common pitfalls, and structure transactions in a way that protects the business while securing critical talent.
By invitation only. Chatham House rules apply.
This program is eligible for up to 1.25 hour of CLE credit in 50-minute states and 1 hour of CLE credit in 60-minute states.
Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules. This course is appropriate for experienced attorneys only. The L Suite has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board and the State Bar of California as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education. We have also recently received accreditation in Illinois and Texas. Additionally, we will seek CLE accreditation in WA, FL, PA, CO, GA, and any of the other 50 states by selecting your jurisdiction in the affidavit form received from the ABA. Canadian participants may use their certificates to submit for credit directly to the Law Society of British Columbia, the Law Society of Ontario, and the Maison du Barreau du Quebec.
The L Suite is the invitation-only executive peer community where CLOs/GCs and their teams turn to make better, faster decisions that propel their companies forward.
The L Suite is made up of 5,000+ executive members who are carefully curated into different peer communities based on seniority, company type, and company stage. This enables our members to form deep, value-add relationships and quickly find and connect with the right peers at the right time to solve their most nuanced challenges.
For more information, visit www.lsuite.co