• videocam On-Demand Webinar
  • signal_cellular_alt Intermediate
  • card_travel Commercial Law
  • schedule 90 minutes

Term Sheets in M&A Deals: Binding Effect, Drafting Strategies, Avoiding Pitfalls, Lessons From Recent Cases

About the Course

Introduction

This CLE webinar will discuss the potential binding effect of term sheets in M&A deals even after definitive agreements are signed. The panel will review lessons learned from recent cases that involved surviving term sheet provisions and provide practical drafting tips to avoid surprises and safeguard a transaction from costly mistakes.

Description

Deal parties often use term sheets in the early stages of negotiations to establish a high-level framework for a transaction before expending additional time and resources on due diligence and the negotiation of more definitive deal documents. Terms sheets outline the crucial deal terms including the valuation of the target company, the high-level deal structure and financial terms, management expectations, transaction logistics, and the exclusivity period. 

Term sheets are intended to serve a limited purpose and are later replaced by a definitive set of agreements that include the full set of deal terms. While term sheets are typically considered non-binding, they can, in some circumstances, become binding on the parties as illustrated in several recent Delaware Chancery Court decisions

Counsel must understand when a term sheet remains in force and is not superseded by a later agreement to protect their clients from unwanted surprises down the road. Careful drafting is necessary for both the term sheet and the final documentation as most deals may warrant the inclusion of a termination and/or integration clause to ensure the desired result for the client. 

Listen as our authoritative panel explains the potential lasting impact of term sheets on M&A transactions and provides drafting tips for mitigating the unintended consequence of a term sheet superseding the terms of a subsequent definitive agreement.

Presented By

Jonathan A. Dhanawade
Partner
Mayer Brown LLP

Mr. Dhanawade is a trusted advisor to private equity firms, their portfolio companies, sovereign and sovereign-backed investors in the Middle East and North America, and other publicly and privately held companies. He concentrates his practice on structuring, negotiating and executing domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, going-private transactions, carve-out transactions, joint ventures, recapitalizations, corporate restructurings and equity investments (including preferred equity investments, PIPEs and growth equity investments). Mr. Dhanawade also provides strategic counsel on a range of general corporate matters, including corporate governance, executive compensation and incentive equity arrangements. He is an adjunct professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

Frank J. Favia Jr.
Partner
Mayer Brown LLP

Public companies and private equity firms turn to Mr. Favia for their most sensitive litigation matters. He brings a unique set of skills to his clients, having served as the executive vice president and general counsel of a private equity backed financial services company, during which time he led a legal department of over 200 lawyers and compliance professionals. Mr. Favia frequently advises public companies and private equity clients in significant M&A litigation and disputes. He has successfully handled dozens of M&A post-closing disputes related to working capital, earn-outs, purchase price adjustments, representations and warranties, indemnification, employment restrictive covenants, and alleged fraud. He has experience bringing claims under representation and warranty insurance policies. He is frequently retained by private equity clients to represent their portfolio companies in significant disputes and investigations. Mr. Favia has represented a diverse range of clients in other commercial litigation matters in arbitrations and in federal, state, appellate, and bankruptcy courts.

Andrew J. Stanger
Knowledge Counsel
Mayer Brown LLP
Credit Information
  • This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.


  • Live Online


    On Demand

Date + Time

  • event

    Wednesday, January 28, 2026

  • schedule

    1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT

I. Overview: the role and importance of term sheets in M&A transactions

II. Terms sheets vs. letters of intent: understanding the similarities and differences

III. Key components of an M&A term sheet

IV. Recent cases illustrating circumstances when a term sheet superseded a subsequent definitive agreement

V. Drafting considerations for term sheets and subsequent definitive agreements

A. Factors causing term sheets to survive

B. Express termination of term sheets

C. Appropriate scope of terms sheets

VI. Practitioner pointers and key takeaways

The panel will review these and other key considerations:

  • What is the purpose of a term sheet, and how is it different from a letter of intent?
  • What crucial deal terms are typically included in a term sheet?
  • What have recent Delaware cases illustrated regarding the potential binding effect and superseding power of terms sheets?
  • What are some key drafting strategies to account for term sheets in transactions and to avoid the unintended consequence that a term sheet supersedes final deal documentation?