Contract Negotiation Fundamentals

Ryan M. Hicks | Sidley Austin

Ryan M. Hicks is a partner in the Century City office of Sidley Austin LLP, where he is a member of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity practices. With a robust background in representing private equity clients, as well as public and private companies, Ryan brings extensive experience to complex transactional matters, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic investments across diverse industries.

Throughout his career, Ryan has advised on high-profile transactions that underscore his versatility and legal acumen. Notably, he represented the owners of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) in the launch of a new North American women’s professional hockey league. His experience also includes advising Symplr in its acquisition of Phynd Technologies, a global healthcare governance, risk management, and compliance software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. Additionally, Ryan played a key role in Clearlake Capital Group’s acquisition of nThrive’s Technology Division from nThrive Holdings, LP, a portfolio company of Pamplona Capital Management. His representation of Pandora Radio in securing a $480 million investment from Sirius XM further exemplifies his capacity to handle significant and complex deals.

Ryan’s academic credentials are equally impressive. He earned his J.D., Order of the Coif, from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, where he contributed to the UCLA Law Review as a staff member (Vol. 61) and served as a senior editor (Vol. 62). Prior to his legal studies, Ryan obtained both his Master of Accountancy and B.S. in Accounting from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business, providing him with a strong foundation in financial principles that enhance his legal practice.

With a combination of legal expertise and financial insight, Ryan Hicks is well-equipped to navigate the complexities of corporate transactions, offering clients strategic counsel and effective solutions in the dynamic landscape of mergers and acquisitions.

I. Where law school alone falls short on preparing you for real-world dealmaking | 1:00pm – 1:20pm

II. Determining your “why” and building foundations for a positive business outcome | 1:20pm – 1:40pm

III. Principles of negotiation | 1:40pm – 2:00pm

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

IV. The psychology of negotiation | 2:10pm – 2:30pm

V. The role of emotional intelligence in negotiation | 2:30pm – 2:45pm

VI. Adapting negotiation strategies in crisis situations | 2:45pm – 3:00pm

VII. Creative problem-solving techniques | 3:00pm – 3:05pm

VIII. Drafting for negotiation success | 3:05pm – 3:10pm