Corporate M and A 2026

USA – UTAH

Idaho

Wyoming

Salt Lake City

Nevada

Utah

Colorado

Trends and Developments Contributed by: Layne Smith, Neal Monson, Paul Justensen and Cloe Nixon Dorsey & Whitney LLP Dorsey & Whitney LLP has been a trusted legal ad - viser and valued business partner since 1912. With more than 650 lawyers across 22 offices in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia, the firm provides an integrated and proactive approach to addressing clients’ legal and business needs. Its attorneys serve clients across nearly every major industry – from tech - nology, life sciences and healthcare to energy, finan - cial services, manufacturing and agribusiness. Many of the world’s most successful companies turn to

New Mexico

Arizona

Dorsey for practical guidance and strategic solutions. Dorsey’s M&A practice is recognised for middle-mar - ket transactions, thanks to its strategic approach, re - sponsiveness and proven efficiency in guiding com - plex deals from start to finish. Its Salt Lake City, Utah office has over 20 corporate attorneys who specialise in M&A and other corporate transactions. The office is also home to numerous specialists who perform supporting roles in corporate transactions.

Authors

Layne Smith focuses his corporate practice on M&A, joint ventures and outside general counsel work. His clients include private equity sponsors, strategic acquirers, sellers and operating companies. Layne

Paul Justensen is a senior attorney in the corporate group in Dorsey’s Salt Lake City Office, helping clients deal with various corporate and securities matters, including M&A, commercial contracts, corporate restructuring,

regularly negotiates purchase agreements, operating agreements, services agreements and development agreements. He is ranked by Chambers USA and, according to his clients, Layne is “exceptional” and “a fantastic external resource with a keen legal mind and ability to deliver consistent results”. He served from 2018 to 2025 as the co-chair of Dorsey’s global M&A practice group, overseeing over 60 M&A and corporate attorneys across the Dorsey platform.

debt and equity financing, corporate formation and equity incentive programmes. Paul assists clients in achieving their strategic goals by guiding them through the process of raising equity, making strategic acquisitions or divestitures, structuring executive compensation, starting new businesses, and navigating securities law issues. He has represented various private equity clients, achieving their goals by raising capital and deploying that capital to acquire portfolio assets.

Neal Monson is a senior associate who focuses his practice on M&A, general counsel matters and a broad range of corporate transactions. He

Cloe Nixon manages government affairs initiatives for clients across a variety of industries. An experienced project manager, she is passionate about working with clients and the firm’s legal experts to develop

has experience representing companies in complex M&A transactions, as well as advising on ongoing corporate governance, commercial agreements and day-to-day legal needs. Neal’s practice is focused on providing practical, business-oriented advice to companies at all stages, supporting both strategic transactions and routine operational matters.

effective strategies to efficiently advance government affairs goals. Drawing on experience working in Senator Orrin Hatch’s office and Governor Gary Herbert’s administration, Cloe provides unique insight into issues shaping Utah’s economic and political landscape. Her work on

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