M&A partner Rich Mullen recently contributed to the Transaction Readiness Report published by Diligent Institute in partnership with Wilson Sonsini, Oracle NetSuite, CFO Alliance, and the CFO Leadership Council. This report sheds light on the current state of transaction readiness—the ability for organizations to efficiently navigate complex transactions such as M&A and capital deals. “The volatile economic landscape and rapid market shifts require not only operational efficiency, but also strategic legal planning and risk management,” said Rich. “Now is the critical moment for leaders to understand how top-performing organizations are preparing for major deals, enabling them to transition from episodic preparation to an ‘always on’ business discipline.” 

More than 200 executives and governance professionals responded to a global survey, which was conducted from July 25, 2025, to September 1, 2025. Key findings include:

• 97 percent of organizations cite major challenges in transaction readiness, impeding their ability to seize strategic opportunities.
  
  
• Only 4 percent of respondents reported that their GRC and financial systems are fully integrated and ready for major transactions, highlighting vulnerabilities that leave organizations exposed and slow to capitalize on strategic opportunities.
  
  
• 49 percent of respondents have delayed deals, 40 percent% have enhanced due diligence, and 46 percent have adjusted their financial modeling in response to economic uncertainty.
  
  
• Only 5 percent of respondents are currently using AI-powered evaluations or data collection. Interest is growing as organizations are starting to leverage AI-powered tools to enhance strategic analysis, compliance, and due diligence.

Click here to read the Transaction Readiness Report.