2025 ACG CIN SEPT LUNCH: Leveraging AI in M&A

As co-head of Lincoln’s Consumer Group in the U.S., Chris leads the firm’s consumer product initiatives and advises companies on mergers and acquisitions. Through a hands-on style of processing deals, Chris develops close relationships with owners and management to learn the priorities of all stakeholders and position companies for maximum valuation.

Chris has deep knowledge of the key dynamics, such as e-commerce and direct-to-consumer marketing, that drive the consumer industry. He brings significant experience leading transactions in the active lifestyle, e-commerce, functional apparel, food and beverage, home furnishings and merchandising sectors. Chris and his teams lead processes that yield outlier valuations by identifying and positioning his clients’ unique points of differentiation.

Chris brings practical life experience having spent his pre-college years deeply involved in running his family’s business, as well as post-educational stints working in operations and corporate development in a Fortune 500 company and auditing large companies at a major global accounting firm.

Chris holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science from Northern Arizona University.

Kim is a partner in the Vorys Cincinnati office, specializing in mergers and acquisitions.  For the last 25 years, she has focused her practice on providing practical corporate advice to public and private companies, including strategic buyers and private equity, across a range of industries.  Kim's practice revolves around delivering comprehensive legal counsel to her clients, encompassing areas such as banking, securities, franchising and general corporate matters.  She provides strategic guidance and representation throughout the entire spectrum of corporate legal matters, including mergers and acquisitions, contract negotiations, and public and private securities offerings.  Kim has been recognized by various publications for her exceptional skills in navigating complex transactions.  She leverages her deep understanding of legal intricacies, regulatory frameworks and market dynamics to safeguard her clients' interests and facilitate successful outcomes.

Kim has spoken publicly on pitfalls in and preparation for mergers and acquisitions, cybersecurity and data breach response plans, vendor contract management, executive compensation, whistleblower and internal controls, as well as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and customer privacy.

Kim received her J.D. magna cum laude from the Duke University School of Law where she was a staff editor for the Journal of Law and Contemporary Problems.  She received her B.S. summa cum laude from Miami University.

Jarrod’s professional highlights include pioneering AI leadership at a $100 Billion Fortune 35 company, where he built and led a team of PhD-level AI engineers and data scientists. His leadership in developing technologies revolutionized interactions within global supply chains, manufacturing, transportation, and commodity trading. Recognized globally for his contributions, Jarrod was named one of the Top Ten AI Leaders in the USA by CIO Review in 2023 and serves on the Chief Data Officer Magazine Global Editorial Board.

At three Fortune 100 companies, Jarrod created comprehensive AI strategies that integrated machine learning and deep learning into core business functions, enhancing predictive accuracy and market responsiveness. His innovative thought leadership developed AI roadmaps for critical areas like fraud detection and wealth management, leading to substantial cost savings and revenue generation. His tenure at IBM Watson further solidified his technical and managerial expertise in Natural Language Processing and global customer relationship management.

Bruce is a partner with Vorys, one of the 200 largest firms in the United States, where he serves as chair of the firm’s M&A practice group.  Bruce works with clients, including Fortune 1000 corporations, local and regional health care providers, private equity firms and their respective portfolio companies, and various state instrumentalities, in the structuring and negotiation of joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions involving both private and public companies.

Bruce is also a member of the firm’s Generative AI task force and is leading the corporate practice regarding the integration of GenAI and related technologies in the firm’s corporate practices and internal processes.  His insights have contributed to the firm’s forward-thinking approach to the assessment, development and integration of GenAI-supported software products.

Bruce received his J.D. with honors from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he served as the associate editor of the Ohio State Law Journal.  He received his MBA from The Ohio State University and his B.A. summa cum laude from Ohio University.