Mergers and acquisitions certification: what is it and how it works

• business professionals (e.g., accountants, bankers) who work in this field 
• corporate officers whose company would enter an M&A deal in the future 

Here’s an example of an M&A certification program offered by a private institution: 

Working with M&A lawyers who have already completed an M&A certification can also be an option for corporations who want to know more about M&A deals. This directory of the best M&A lawyers in Canada as ranked by Lexpert, one of our sister publications, is helpful when you want to reach out to one. 

What are the benefits of a mergers and acquisitions certification? 

Taking an M&A certification program can benefit participants in many ways: 

• dissecting an M&A deal: since a lot of things happen in an M&A transaction, such as conduct of due diligence, negotiations with multiple parties, and integration, an M&A certification program can discuss these specifics more thoroughly for a successful company M&A 

• improved M&A practice: lawyers, investment bankers, HR consultants, and other professionals who aid companies undergoing M&A deals can upgrade their practice to help their clients more effectively after enrolling in an M&A certification program 

• knowledge for corporations: in addition to hiring an M&A lawyer, top officers and stakeholders of corporations can also a learn a thing or two from M&A certification programs, especially when a looming merger or acquisition is coming their way or to just simply prepare for one 

Where can I get a mergers and acquisitions certification? 

In Canada, various educational institutions offer M&A certificate programs, which can be taken by lawyers and non-lawyers alike. This is in addition to other private institutions that offer the same certificate courses. Simply put, there are a lot of opportunities that professionals can get when they want to expand their expertise and skills in M&A transactions. 

Osgoode’s M&A certificate program 

Running on its 13th edition, York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School has a long-standing M&A certificate program called the M&A Skills Boot Camp. With the help of Anna Perelman, the Director of Marketing and Enrolment Management at Osgoode, we’ve provided some important details of this M&A certificate program by Osgoode. 

Eligibility 

This M&A certificate program of Osgoode is an open-enrollment program, where anyone can register. Aside from in-house counsels and lawyers in the field of M&A, this certificate program can be attended by: 

• investment bankers and private equity investors 
• commercial bankers 
• executives in M&A negotiations/transactions 
• accountants 
• corporate development officers 
• government and regulatory representatives 

This means that any legal or business professional who is involved in M&A transactions may enroll in this certificate program. 

Program and agenda 

This M&A certificate program is taught using practical examples, templates and precedents, with a corporate acquisition case at the end of the program. The program length is usually for four half days via live online lectures; this January 2025, it will have an online replay of the previous program held this year. 

Each day would have different modules with varying topics that cover the whole process in M&As: 

• Module 1: overview of M&As, due diligence, and IT and IP ownership 
• Module 2: private and public M&As, and highlights from recent deals 
• Module 3: negotiation techniques and regulatory risks 
• Module 4: issues on labour and employment, privacy and cybersecurity, and closing and post-closing logistics 

Pricing and financial assistance 

Currently, the regular cost of Osgoode’s M&A certificate program is $1,795, plus tax. However, there are ways to minimize this cost through: 

• discounts: a newly licensed regulated professional within the past two years will receive a 50% discount from the regular cost  
• group rates: applies when registering multiple registrants, but requires that they come from the same organization who must register as a group 
• financial assistance: those who want to seek financial assistance must file their completed applications and resume 15 business days before the program start date 

Note that the reduced group rates cannot be combined with the discounts for newly licensed professionals. 

Institutions that offer M&A certification 

Aside from Canadian law schools, such as Osgoode, that offer M&A certification program, there are other private institutions that offer online courses, such as: 

• Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions & Alliances (IMAA) 
• M&A Science Academy 
• INSEAD 

Educational institutions outside Canada also have their own M&A certification program which can be taken online: 

• London School of Business’ Mergers and Acquisitions Course 
• Kellogg School of Business’ Creating Value through M&A 
• Harvard Business School’s Mergers and Acquisitions 
• Stanford Graduate School of Business’ Mergers and Acquisitions Course 

These courses are offered either on-site or online, with online courses being more costly compared to those taken on-site. 

Other alternatives for M&A certifications 

There are other opportunities to learn more about M&A deals in Canada. For instance, JD and LLM students currently enrolled in Canadian law schools may take up some courses within the graduate program that teaches M&A deals: 

• University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law:  

• “Contested Corporate Transactions - Mergers and Acquisitions” for JD and LLM students 
• “Clinical Legal Education: Externship - Mergers & Acquisitions Litigation” for JD students 

• Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law: 

• “Mergers, Acquisitions and Other Changes of Corporate Control” for JD students 

Having a mergers and acquisitions certification will help professionals get into the top firms in the country. Know which law firms are the best in M&A transactions by checking our directory of the Lexpert-ranked best law firms for M&As in Canada.