On this episode of Deal-By-Deal, host Greg Hawver is joined by Cathleen Hughes, Kroll’s Director of Corporate Finance and Restructuring, for a deep dive into due diligence, including M&A transactions and post-closing. Risks associated with M&A deals have evolved. “And these risks include those that can be discovered pre-transaction as well as risks that may not exist at the outset, but can require some continual monitoring post-close in order to mitigate the emergence of such risks.” Greg and Cathleen discuss how the due diligence process guides the successful completion of a deal. It can be divided into various phases including initial structuring diligence and confirmatory diligence. They also emphasize the importance of addressing the post-closing aspects of due diligence, which can be overlooked as investors move on to new deals.  Cathleen also provides insights on due diligence categories that are often overlooked but very impactful. These include background checks, corporate culture, cyber risk, and digital chatter.  Meet Your Guest Name: Cathleen Hughes Title: Director, Corporate Finance and Restructuring at Kroll Speciality: Cathleen is a director in Kroll’s Corporate Finance group, based in Chicago. She brings more than 20 years of experience to her work in M&A with a focus on financial sponsor coverage. Connect: LinkedIn Acquired KnowledgeTop takeaways from this episode  Make the most of financial and accounting due diligence in M&A deals. Conduct a quality of earnings assessment prior to the transaction with a thorough corporate structure analysis. There are new due diligence options to consider. Consider background checks and investigations in diligence, especially for deals involving new markets or new-to-you categories. Consider digital chatter an early warning indicator. Monitoring online discussions and activities across various web platforms can provide insights into emerging risks before they materialize. ContactConnect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube. This podcast was recorded and is being made available by McGuireWoods for informational purposes only. By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that McGuireWoods makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in the podcast. The views, information, or opinions expressed during this podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect those of McGuireWoods. This podcast should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state and should not be construed as an offer to make or consider any investment or course of action.