WLA TRANSACTIONAL & M&A
Cross-border M&A, corporate structuring, joint ventures, and private equity transactions co-practiced across 90+ jurisdictions. Both sides of every major deal corridor. One co-practice team, brief to close.
EVERY DIMENSION OF
CROSS-BORDER M&A.
WLA's Transactional practice covers every stage of a cross-border deal — from initial structuring and due diligence through to signing, regulatory clearances, and post-completion integration. Click any capability to expand.
WLA co-practices full cross-border M&A transactions — covering both the buy-side and sell-side across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously. Partner firms in each jurisdiction jointly hold the matter, ensuring deal strategy is aligned and jurisdiction-specific execution is delivered by the deepest possible local specialists.
- Buy-side acquisition support across all required jurisdictions simultaneously
- Sell-side transaction management — WLA coordinates both sides of the deal
- Merger structuring and regulatory clearance in each jurisdiction
- Cross-border due diligence coordination — one timeline, all markets
- Post-completion integration support including employment and IP transfer
- FDI screening and foreign investment approval management
Joint venture structures across multiple legal systems require specialist knowledge of corporate law in each jurisdiction combined with the ability to align JV terms across different regulatory frameworks. WLA co-practices both the JV structuring and the ongoing governance framework — with partner firms in each jurisdiction jointly accountable for the outcome.
- JV structure design across multiple legal systems
- Shareholder agreement drafting and cross-jurisdiction harmonisation
- Governance framework design for international joint ventures
- Ongoing JV legal support — operational and strategic matters
- JV exit structuring and dispute resolution framework
WLA's co-practice framework is purpose-built for private equity transactions spanning multiple jurisdictions. Fund formation and structuring, portfolio company acquisitions, cross-border carve-outs, and exit transactions — all delivered through WLA partner firms who understand the PE deal clock and operate under one institutional accountability framework.
- Fund formation across multiple legal systems — common law, civil law, Islamic
- Portfolio company acquisitions in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously
- Cross-border carve-outs and management buyouts
- Warranty and indemnity insurance across jurisdictions
- Exit structuring — trade sale, secondary, IPO preparation
- Portfolio company legal infrastructure across all operating markets
Group reorganisations across multiple jurisdictions — whether driven by operational efficiency, tax optimisation, regulatory compliance, or M&A preparation — require coordinated corporate law support across every territory in which the group operates. WLA delivers this through the co-practice framework: one engagement, all jurisdictions, one coordinated timeline.
- Multi-jurisdiction group reorganisation design and execution
- Holding company migrations and group structure simplification
- Tax-efficient cross-border restructuring — working alongside WLA Tax Group
- Subsidiary mergers, liquidations, and dormant company management
- Regulatory clearance for group reorganisations in multiple markets
Foreign direct investment screening has become one of the most complex and jurisdiction-specific aspects of cross-border M&A since 2019. Every major deal corridor now involves FDI review in at least one jurisdiction. WLA co-practices FDI screening across all required jurisdictions simultaneously — with partner firms who live and breathe each regime daily.
- EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation — screening and phase 2 proceedings
- CFIUS review in the United States
- MISA fast-track and standard approval in Saudi Arabia
- FIRB in Australia, NSIA in the UK, and equivalents across 40+ jurisdictions
- Strategic coordination of multi-jurisdiction FDI filings on parallel timelines
WLA CO-PRACTICES BOTH SIDES
OF EVERY MAJOR M&A CORRIDOR.
Transactional and M&A co-practice is active across all six WLA deal corridors in 2026. WLA holds the accredited partner firm on both sides — one brief covers both jurisdictions.
FROM DEAL ALERT
TO SIGNING. ONE TEAM.
Describe the deal — jurisdictions, parties, timeline, and structure. WLA Central Command reviews and begins matching immediately. No RFP. No procurement.
WLA confirms the right M&A specialist in each required jurisdiction. One team confirmation document. Not six separate proposals from six different firms.
Partner firms jointly hold the deal. Shared strategy meetings. Aligned due diligence timelines. One WLA coordination layer. No gaps between jurisdictions.
Every jurisdiction signs simultaneously. Regulatory clearances coordinated. Post-completion steps managed. One consolidated invoice. Brief to close.
