Cross-Border M&A and Cultural Strategy with Friederike Henke

In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Friederike Henke, a corporate M&A partner at Buren in Amsterdam, about the realities of managing cross-border transactions between Germany, the Netherlands, and beyond. Friederike explains how cultural differences—particularly around regulation, negotiation strategy, and documentation—shape the way deals are structured and executed. They discuss the often-overlooked role of project management in transactions and how varying approaches across jurisdictions can either streamline or complicate a process. The conversation also covers the launch of Buren’s India desk and the strategic considerations behind building an international practice. Throughout, Friederike offers practical insight into how legal systems and business cultures intersect in real-world dealmaking.