Cross-Border M&A Strategy: Navigating Complex International Deals with Arash Attar-Rezvani

Arash Attar-Rezvani - M&A Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Arash Attar-Rezvani, M&A Partner at Skadden based in Paris, brings over two decades of cross-border M&A strategy experience to this in-depth conversation. From billion-dollar telecom deals across Latin America to luxury brand acquisitions spanning multiple jurisdictions, Arash reveals the hidden complexities that make international M&A uniquely challenging. M&A professionals will learn how to structure deals across incompatible legal systems, navigate emerging regulatory landscapes, and build the trust essential for successful cross-border transactions. Things you will learn: How to identify and manage multiple antitrust and national security clearances across jurisdictions with varying sophistication levels Why smaller transactions often require more innovation than billion-dollar deals, and how to build structures when no legal playbook exists The psychology behind cross-border deal-making and why trust trumps even the most ironclad contracts _________________ How One Small M&A Team is Closing 8 Deals This Year See how US Heart & Vascular is running faster, cleaner deals using Buyer-Led M&A™ and DealRoom. Join Kison in the live session on August 14 at 11am EST. 👉Register now at dealroom.net/insidethedeal _________________ Episode Chapters [00:02:30] International Legal Foundation – Arash's multicultural background and path to cross-border M&A expertise [00:06:00] Deal Size vs. Complexity – Why Smaller Founder-Led Acquisitions Present Unique Structural Challenges [00:14:30] Strategic M&A Motivations – The full spectrum of acquisition rationales from geography to technology [00:18:30] Building Long-Term Client Relationships – The trusted advisor model and its impact on deal success [00:21:00] Cross-Border Regulatory Landscape – GDPR, Cloud Act, and the proliferation of national security reviews [00:28:00] Managing Multiple Jurisdictions – How to prevent small markets from derailing global transactions [00:33:00] French M&A Environment – Labor consultation requirements and overcoming cultural prejudices [00:47:00] High-Stakes Deal Philosophy – Why people, not money, define truly consequential transactions [00:51:30] Creative Deal Innovation – The first-of-its-kind Luxottica take-private structure across Luxembourg and Hong Kong [00:57:30] AI's Impact on Legal Services – How technology will reshape M&A advisory and fee structures Questions, comments, concerns?Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.