Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin provides a minute-by-minute account of the events surrounding the 2007-2008 financial crisis. The book chronicles the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the subsequent efforts by Wall Street and Washington to save the financial system. It is based on hundreds of interviews with top executives and regulators, offering a detailed and dramatic narrative of the crisis, including the motivations of ego, greed, fear, and self-preservation that drove the key players. The book also explores the intricate web of decisions and actions that led to the crisis and the measures taken to mitigate its impact.
The Man Who Owns the News by Michael Wolff provides an intimate look at Rupert Murdoch's life and business empire. With unprecedented access to Murdoch and his associates, Wolff chronicles the growth of Murdoch's media kingdom, including his acquisition of The Wall Street Journal. The book offers insights into Murdoch's personal life, his family dynamics, and his influence on global media and politics.
Rob Kindler, Partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
In this episode of the M&A Science podcast, Kison Patel sits down with Rob Kindler, a uniquely positioned dealmaker whose career has spanned both sides of the M&A table—law and investment banking. Rob previously led global M&A at Morgan Stanley and is now a senior partner at Paul Weiss. With 44 years of experience, he’s seen firsthand how the roles of lawyers and bankers have evolved, what makes a deal succeed or fail, and how today’s regulatory, activist, and valuation pressures are reshaping M&A execution.
Things you will learn:
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Why legal advisors are now the first call in M&A, not the last
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How corporate development teams have replaced bankers in early-stage deal sourcing
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Why regulatory strategy and shareholder approval planning can make or break a deal
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How to negotiate effectively by predicting “the end of the movie”
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Episode Chapters
[00:01:00] Rob’s career arc from lawyer to banker and back again
[00:04:30] Why Rob left law for investment banking in 2000
[00:06:00] How corporate dev teams changed the role of bankers
[00:11:30] Structuring deals to avoid shareholder approval pitfalls
[00:14:30] The rise of activism and merger arbitrage in public M&A
[00:16:00] How buyer-led M&A has transformed deal strategy
[00:22:30] Impact of regulatory regimes in U.S. vs. Europe
[00:27:00] Lessons in negotiation and predicting deal dynamics
[00:36:00] Why intrinsic value matters more than financial engineering
[00:48:30] What top CEOs understand about using M&A to drive strategy [00:51:00] How to spot a bad deal—and the red flags bankers sometimes ignore
[00:53:00] Rob’s funniest moment: 300 pounds of turnips on a conference table
Questions, comments, concerns?Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.
M&A Science 
