# At the Center of the Transaction: Coordinating Business Deals from Start to Finish

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/i-am-the-law-172861/at-the-center-of-the-transaction-coordinating-business-deals-from-start-to-finish
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/i-am-the-law-172861/at-the-center-of-the-transaction-coordinating-business-deals-from-start-to-finish.md
Podcast: [I Am The Law](https://stenobird.com/podcast/i-am-the-law-172861)
Published: 2026-01-07T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.lawhub.org/podcasts/i-am-the-law
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/af27faee-f3c3-4bc0-af79-8dc70e042465.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/i-am-the-law-172861/episodes/at-the-center-of-the-transaction-coordinating-business-deals-from-start-to-finish
Duration seconds: 1896

## Resource

Michael Kohagen structures mergers and acquisitions for clients across the deal spectrum, from family businesses selling for $5 million to headline-grabbing deals. He explains how smaller deals offer closer client relationships—often working directly with owners who lack M&A experience but know their business intimately. Michael walks through the deal process from confidentiality agreements and letters of intent through due diligence and purchase agreements, emphasizing his role coordinating specialists while drafting core transaction documents. He discusses how AI is beginning to change document review, why most M&A deals fail (time drag and initial misalignment), and how his central role creates both pressure and satisfaction. Michael is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee. Mentioned in this episode: Access LawHub today! Learn more about Seton Hall Learn more about Boston University School of Law Learn more about Juno and private student loans Learn more about Blueprint Learn more about Oklahoma City University School of Law Learn more about Haynes Boone LLP

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