2026 NH Mergers & Acquisitions Conference
2026-06-04 09:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
McLane Middleton and the New Hampshire Society of CPAs are excited to partner once again and host the New Hampshire Mergers & Acquisitions Conference on June 4 at Jimmy’s Jazz Club in Portsmouth.
This conference returns for its second year, bringing together leading legal, tax, finance, and business experts from diverse industries to explore the evolving M&A landscape. Building on the success of last year’s event, this year’s conference will feature dynamic panel discussions on innovative strategies and offer unparalleled opportunities for professional networking. Panelists will share actionable insights, in-depth analysis, and proven strategies to help you thrive in today’s competitive M&A market. Join us for this premier event and gain the knowledge and connections you need to navigate the ever-changing world of mergers and acquisitions with confidence.

AGENDA:

8:30 a.m. – Registration and Welcome
9:05 a.m. – State of the Market: Key M&A Trends
Presenters: Patrick Closson, McLane Middleton; Ramey Sylvester, McLane Middleton; John-Michael Girald, Peloton; Chris Annand, Baker Tilly
The M&A landscape continues to evolve amid shifting economic conditions, regulatory scrutiny, and changing buyer and seller expectations. This session will provide a timely overview of the current state of the market, highlighting key trends shaping deal activity across industries. Topics will include valuation dynamics, the impact of interest rates and capital availability, buyer and seller motivations, deal structures, and what market participants are seeing in today’s transactions. Attendees will gain practical insights to help assess opportunities, manage risk, and position themselves effectively in an increasingly competitive M&A environment.
9:45 a.m. – Powering the Deal: Financing Strategies in M&A Transactions
Presenters: Kimberly Kramer, McLane Middleton; Mike Kent, BellMark Partners; Joseph Alberghini, Eastern Bank; Alvin Reynolds, Woodland South Capital.
Financing is a critical driver of successful M&A transactions and can significantly influence deal structure, timing, and risk. This session will explore the financing options commonly used in today’s M&A market, including institutional lender debt financing and private credit debt financing. Speakers will discuss how market conditions, interest rates, and lender expectations impact deal financing, key considerations for buyers and sellers when negotiating terms, as well as how these credit facilities are currently being structured and the additional legal requirements necessary to obtain the facility. Attendees will gain practical insights into structuring and securing financing to support transaction goals and power deals to the finish line.
10:30 a.m. – Break
10:45 a.m. – Preparing for Liquidity Before the Deal Starts
Presenters: Kendall Spencer, McLane Middleton; Whitney Alexander, McLane Middleton; Mitchell Stagnone, TSS Advisors; Connor McGuirk, Merrill Lynch
Successful transactions are often determined long before a deal is on the table. This session will focus on the critical legal, financial, and tax steps business owners and stakeholders can take to prepare for a future liquidity event. Speakers will discuss advance planning strategies to enhance value, address potential red flags, align internal teams and advisors early in the process, and ensure the seller has adequately planned for the liquidity event. Attendees will gain practical guidance on how thoughtful advance preparation can help ensure equity ownership is held optimally from an estate planning perspective, and put a business owner or stakeholder in an optimal financial and tax standpoint after the liquidity event takes place.
11:30 a.m. – Understanding Key Tax Structures in M&A Transactions
Presenters: John DeWispelaere, McLane Middleton; Amy Drake, McLane Middleton, Cory Vargo, Wipfli; Brian Corrigan Baker Tilly
Tax structure plays a pivotal role in shaping the economics and outcomes of M&A transactions for both buyers and sellers. This session will provide an overview of the most common tax structures used in M&A, including asset sales and stock sales, and examine how each impacts deal value, risk allocation, and post-closing outcomes. Speakers will address key considerations such as F- Reorganizations, tax elections (including 338(h)(10) elections), and how state corporate and personal income tax issues can impact transactions and transaction structures. Attendees will gain practical insight into how federal and state tax matters can impact and dictate the outcomes of various M&A transaction structures.
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Aligning Buyer and Seller: Driving Alignment Throughout the M&A Process
Presenters: Jesse Angeley, McLane Middleton; Stephanie Lee, McLane Middleton; John DeWispelaere, McLane Middleton; Scott McKenzie, Baker Newman Noyes; David Schneider, River Birch Partners LLC; Kohl Geibel, Bigelow LLC; Matt Nadeau, Nathan Wechsler
Successful M&A transactions require alignment between buyers and sellers on all aspects of a transaction. This session brings together attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, and private equity professionals to discuss how key transaction issues are viewed from both the buyer’s and seller’s perspective. The conversation will explore how different deal professionals analyze common friction points, where expectations tend to diverge, and how experienced advisors help parties navigate those differences to keep transactions moving toward closing.
3:00 p.m. – Networking Reception

COST:
$399 (Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, reception, electronic copies of materials, CPA and CLE credits.)

2026 Massachusetts Employment Update
2026-09-24 08:00 - 12:30 | Danversport, 161 Elliott Street, Danvers, 01923, United States
McLane Middleton’s annual Massachusetts Employment Law Update will take place on September 24, 2026 at the Danversport in Danvers, MA.
AGENDA

8:00 a.m. – Registration and Welcome
8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
News You Can Use: Massachusetts and Federal administrative, legislative and case law update
Presenters: Adam Hamel and Jennifer Parent
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Review of ADA Accommodations Best Practices
Presenters: Peg O’Brien and Brian Garrett
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. – Break
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
Immigration Update
Presenters: Shiva Karimi & Andrea Hellrigel
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Retaliation and Whistleblower Claims: Working through Fact Patterns
Presenters: Adam Hamel, Brian Garrett, and Amanda Brahm
12:15 – 12:30 p.m. – Q&A and Wrap-Up
Cost:
Early Bird – $125.00 (thru August 2, 2026)
Regular Rate – $150.00 (beginning August 3, 2026)
Registration includes continental breakfast, electronic copies of materials, and credits.

2026 Seacoast Employment Law Bootcamp Event
2026-09-30 08:00 - 12:30 | The Venue at Portwalk Place, 22 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Employment Law Boot Camp
A Little Prevention – A Lot Less Litigation
The best way to win an employment lawsuit is to prevent it from happening. Every day, employers face decisions that can either reduce legal risk or unintentionally create it. Most employment claims don’t arise from bad intentions. They stem from well-meaning managers making difficult decisions without understanding the legal implications.
Join us for this interactive half-day Employment Law Boot Camp designed to provide practical strategies that help employers avoid costly mistakes before they become legal problems.
Using real-world examples and practical guidance, we’ll focus on the questions employment attorneys answer every day.
During this program, we’ll cover:
Pay Correctly
Wage and hour compliance
Overtime and travel time
Employee classification and common payroll mistakes
Document & Discipline
Effective performance management
Documentation that supports employment decisions
Conducting workplace investigations and avoiding retaliation claims
Accommodate with Confidence
ADA accommodations
Medical leaves and return-to-work issues
Managing difficult conversations involving health and disability
Terminate Without Regret
Preparing for termination decisions
Reducing litigation risk
Best practices for final pay, severance, and post-employment issues

Who Should Attend?

Human Resource Professionals
Business Owners
Executives
Managers and Supervisors
In-House Counsel
Anyone responsible for making employment decisions

Cost:
Early Bird – $125.00 (Thru August 11, 2026)
Regular Rate – $150.00 (Beginning August 12, 2026)
Registration includes continental breakfast, electronic copies of materials, and credits.
