The M&A Excellence Days 2026 took place in Frankfurt am Main on 4 and 5 March 2026. The event was organised by the Bundesverband Mergers & Acquisitions gem. e.V. (BMA) in cooperation with the DIS, the Bundesverband Beteiligungskapital e.V. (BVK), Goethe University Frankfurt and UnternehmerTUM GmbH.
As a cooperation partner, the DIS played a key role in shaping the content and set important priorities, particularly in the area of Disputes in M&A. The event brought together experts from practice, consulting, academia and the business world to discuss current developments in the M&A market and provide practical insights into key challenges along the transaction process.
A special focus was placed on dispute resolution in connection with M&A transactions, with the DIS organising several programme items in this thematic area.
On day 1, a DIS panel addressed post-M&A disputes and W&I (warranty and indemnity) insurance. Moderated by and with contributions from Heiko Haller (Baker McKenzie), Irina Novikova (Deloitte), Judith Sawang (Ashurst) and Benedict M. Prinzenberg (Funk M&A and Tax Solutions), the panel discussed the types of disputes that typically arise after closing and the role that W&I insurance plays in such conflicts. The discussion showed that this type ofcoverage is now an integral part of many transactions, but at the same time raises new legal and strategic questions when disputes arise.
On the morning of day 2, a DIS masterclass on the topic of dispute-proof deals was led by Jennifer Bryant (Noerr). The session addressed how transactions can be shaped during the structuring and contract phase in such a way that conflicts can be avoided as far as possible or at least resolved efficiently.
In the afternoon, another DIS panel on cross-border M&A disputes was on the agenda. Kirstin Schwedt (Schwedt Dispute Resolution), Siegfried H. Elsing (Orrick), Gerrit Niehoff (Baker McKenzie) and Karl Pörnbacher (Lovells) discussed typical challenges of cross-border M&A disputes, focusing on questions of jurisdiction, the choice of suitable dispute resolution mechanisms and strategic considerations in international conflicts.
In addition, Jan K. Schaefer (King & Spalding), Nils Schmidt-Ahrendts (Hanefeld) and Daniel H. Sharma (ALM Partners) contributed further arbitration insights to the discussion in other panels.
The M&A Excellence Days 2026 once again proved an important platform for exchange between decision-makers, experts and young talents from the M&A community. In addition to high-calibre specialist presentations, the focus was on interdisciplinary dialogue, practical case studies and networking opportunities.
Yet again, the event highlighted how closely M&A transactions and dispute resolution are linked – and the role that efficient conflict resolution mechanisms, in particular arbitration, play in international transaction practice.
Thomas Klich