Law.com Publishes Article by Andrew Lucano and Brett Mueller on Seyfarth’s Latest Middle Market M&A SurveyBook

The American Lawyer’s Law.com published an article by Corporate department chair Andrew Lucano and counsel Brett Mueller: “Who’s Really Winning in Middle-Market M&A? What the Latest SurveyBook Reveals” on November 4, 2026. The article, which will also appear in the November 10 edition of The New York Law Journal, examines key findings from Seyfarth’s recently released 12th annual Middle Market M&A SurveyBook.

Lucano and Mueller, drawing on Seyfarth’s analysis of more than 160 publicly available private-target acquisition agreements signed during 2025 and the first half of 2026, highlight an active but increasingly disciplined deal environment. They discuss notable trends including the growing use of earnouts and representation and warranty insurance, evolving indemnification structures, and shifting approaches to risk allocation between buyers and sellers.

"For disciplined buyers and sellers alike, the 2026 market has continued to reward careful dealmaking, thoughtful risk allocation, and a long-term view of value creation."

The authors also look ahead at the forces expected to shape middle-market M&A, including the ongoing “Great Ownership Transfer,” abundant private equity capital, and continued buyer demand for attractive businesses.

"While macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty will continue to influence transaction timing and structure, the fundamental drivers of middle-market M&A remain favorable."

The full article is available here.