Compliance catalyst: how CCOs are shaping business value
November 2025 | COVER STORY
CCOs are expected to anticipate emerging regulatory risks across jurisdictions, translate legal requirements into actionable business guidance, collaborate cross-functionally to embed compliance into operations, and serve as trusted advisers to executive leadership and the board. Crucially, they must also prioritise value generation.
Paying for performance: earn-outs in M&A
November 2025 | FEATURE
With the cost of capital contributing to an increasingly uncertain market, earn-outs remain a vital mechanism for bridging valuation gaps – an essential tool in the deal structuring playbook.
Behind the curve: automating European financial services
November 2025 | FEATURE
Financial automation has become a necessity. The expectation is growing that financial services firms will modernise their systems to meet both operational and regulatory demands.
Not easy being green: greenhushing on the rise
November 2025 | FEATURE
Greenhushing is becoming more prevalent among both corporates and investors. Despite their differences, greenwashing and greenhushing share a common trait: both distort the truth, albeit from opposite ends of the spectrum.
Responsible business
November 2025 | WORLDWATCH
Companies across the globe face a variety of stakeholder expectations on responsible business conduct. While each company’s particular focus areas are unique, climate, forced labour and supply chain risk, as well as emerging regulatory requirements, are commonly included in responsible business programmes across a wide range of industries. FW moderates a discussion between Jill Shaw at A&L Goodbody LLP, Paul Dobson at Deloitte, Osama El-Bakry at Grant Thornton UAE, Alexandra Farmer at Kirkland & Ellis, Thomas King at Pinsent Masons, Sarah Marsh at PwC Canada, Gunther Dütsch at PwC Germany, and Heather Gagen at Travers Smith LLP.
Q&A: M&A in the healthcare and life sciences sector
November 2025 | SPECIAL REPORT
Despite broader market volatility because of economic and political challenges, healthcare and life sciences remain among the most resilient sectors for M&A. FW discusses M&A in the healthcare and life sciences sector with Frank Aquila at Sullivan & Cromwell.
Q&A: Drug and medical device litigation
November 2025 | SPOTLIGHT
The direction of the FDA and other federal agencies may lead to increased litigation as to vaccines and other medical products that have long been considered safe and effective. FW discusses drug and medical device litigation with Christian Di Mauro at Hogan Lovells Studio Legale, Eric Alexander at Holland & Knight LLP and Alison Dennis at Taylor Wessing.
Sanctions compliance: what every board and senior executive needs to know
November 2025 | SPOTLIGHT
For boards and senior executives, sanctions risk is not something to delegate or downplay. It is a strategic imperative. Failures can trigger regulatory enforcement, reputational harm, financial penalties, even criminal liability and, in some cases, the loss of access to critical markets.
Evolving M&A valuations: rethinking value in a shifting market
November 2025 | TALKINGPOINT
Innovative deal structures are gaining traction as buyers and sellers seek flexibility in navigating valuation mismatches. FW discusses evolving M&A valuations in a shifting market with Jennifer Van Dalen, Joanne Lupton, Sander Mulder, Matthew Warren and Johannes Post at KPMG.
Building business resilience: risk management for global tariff volatility
November 2025 | TALKINGPOINT
Tariff modelling tools are designed to provide scenario planning analytics and support companies in developing supply chain strategies. FW discusses business resilience and risk management amid global tariff volatility with Mary Rollman, Margaret Muzzin, Luca Bonardi, George Zaharatos and Daniel Click at KPMG.
Optimising tax reporting
November 2025 | TALKINGPOINT
A blended model allows tax functions to stay compliant, agile and cost-efficient under financial pressure. FW discusses tax reporting optimisation with Romain Tiffon at ATOZ Tax Advisers.
Energy transition: powering data centre growth
November 2025 | TALKINGPOINT
As data centres become ever more integral to critical infrastructure, power requirements are evolving in scale, complexity and resilience. FW discusses the energy transition and powering data centre growth with Tom Diplock, Jeremy Wheatland, Amar Gujral and Luke Samuel at L.E.K. Consulting.
The high-stakes future of healthcare consolidation and regulation
November 2025 | SPOTLIGHT
Anticipating regulatory shifts and embedding compliance into strategy allows providers to withstand pressure and turn limitations into opportunities. Maintaining regulatory vigilance in tandem with the evolution of business development goals is key to successful enterprise risk management.
Selective and strategic: the rise of megadeals in a leaner M&A market
November 2025 | SPOTLIGHT
Megadeals are not without peril. Beyond merging systems and processes, megadeals require aligning corporate cultures, leadership teams and brand positioning. A single misstep risks eroding projected synergies.
‘Be your own activist’ – avoiding common pitfalls in activism preparedness
November 2025 | SPOTLIGHT
The key to activism preparedness is having a well-advised board, thinking about the value drivers of the business and viewing the company through the lens of various constituencies, including potential activist shareholders.
Challenges posed by the digital economy
November 2025 | SPOTLIGHT
By addressing the regulatory, ethical and operational dilemmas posed by AI, businesses can position themselves as leaders in the digital age. For companies grappling with the challenges of AI or seeking to understand how it can transform their organisation, now is the time to act.
