After a year of disruption across the federal marketplace, government contracting companies entering the 2026 M&A arena are facing a significantly reshaped landscape. Join three leading experts as they unpack the market trends, legal shifts, and strategic considerations shaping transactions this year.

Our panel features:

Jeff Cohen, Shareholder at the international law firm Greenberg Traurig;
Sharon Heaton, veteran M&A advisor and author of the bestseller Lift Off: 12 Things to Know Before Selling Your Business; and
Ricky White, Partner at Cherry Bekaert.

Together, they will explore:

• 2026 market trends driving activity for buyers and sellers of GovCon companies
• Multiples, valuation expectations, and evolving approaches to risk‑sharing in today’s deals
• Key legal changes—including those driven by Administration transitions—and how they influence deal terms and transaction structuring
• The GovCon business lifecycle and how to plan effectively for M&A
• What makes an M&A team truly successful in this environment

Whether you're preparing to sell, planning a strategic acquisition, or growing to the next level, this discussion will offer timely insights into a market undergoing rapid change.

Meet our speakers:

 Jeff Cohen – Shareholder – Greenberg Traurig

Jeffrey A. D. Cohen focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions for private equity funds, technology companies and government contractors. In this role, he leads complex domestic and cross-border transactions for strategic and private equity-backed companies across a range of industries and industry verticals. Jeff also regularly advises clients in the areas of general corporate matters, corporate governance, and securities regulations.

Having served over 20 years as trusted adviser to private equity professionals and entrepreneurs, he is known for his ability to focus on key issues, partner with clients on working toward their goals, and understand issues from both a business and legal perspective.

Sharon Heaton, Founder & CEO – sbLiftOff

 Known as one of the country’s leading small business advocates, Sharon Heaton, founder of sbLiftOff, is an avidly sought speaker on small business, growth strategies and M&A. “I founded sbLiftOff,” says Heaton, “to serve those special people who sit at their kitchen table, come up with an idea, start a business, hire people, pay their taxes, and fuel our economy. Small business owners are the backbone of the American economy, and we are honored to make sure they get a fair deal.”  sbLiftOff serves commercial and government contracting companies with $10 million to $100 million in revenues and more than $2 million in EBITDA.

Heaton’s book, LIFT OFF: 12 Things to Know Before You Sell Your Company, is published by Forbes and in its second edition. Appointed to the Small Business Administration’s Investment Capital Advisory Committee, she is working nationally to increase small business access to investment capital. Heaton publishes in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Washington Business Journal, AL.com and regional outlets around the country. 

Heaton has been associated with the global law firms of Skadden Arps and Latham & Watkins and has served as Senior Counsel on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, General Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. She co-founded Wellford Energy Group, an investment bank serving clean energy and low carbon companies. Previously, she was Deputy Counsel of a Fortune 500 company operating in ten states.

Ms. Heaton holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School and a B.A. from Barnard College. 

Ricky White – Director/Deal Advisory – Cherry Bekaert

A Director within Cherry Bekaert’s Deal Advisory practice, Ricky White has over 20 years of buy- and sell-side due diligence, finance, and accounting consulting experience. He has worked on more than 100+ middle-market deals covering advisory on mergers & acquisitions, financial due diligence, Quality of Earnings (QoE) and valuation engagements. He has deep government contracting industry expertise and, over the last decade, has focused solely on mergers & acquisitions.