www.acquisition-international.com • Issue 11 2022 Solitek: Best Novel Solid State Services Provider 2022
2 Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 From our Editor Welcome to the November edition of Acquisition International Magazine, bringing you the latest news, features, and success stories from businesses all over the world. As we near the end of 2022, we would like to showcase this mixture of impactful businesses to demonstrate how they have worked hard throughout a year as tumultuous as the last. Things haven’t been easy for the world, especially in recent years, and we are always looking for new ways to improve our experience of life, the self, and, of course, business. It is imperative to remind ourselves that life is ever evolving and greatly surprising. Not only for our personal lives, but within the corporate landscape. What was pertinent yesterday can no longer be relevant today, and vice versa. We are all striving to make advancements in many, if not all, areas of life. We also look forward to learning more about ourselves and the people around us. Here we would like to shine a light upon some companies that are making a huge difference to their industries. From biomedical research to mobile app development, law offices to preformulation business, and more, we explore a plethora of businesses making waves for a better, brighter future. Switching up the pace for generations to come, we see them raising the bar time and time again. We hope you enjoy reading this issue and we sincerely wish you a great month ahead. We look forward to welcoming you back again before the end of 2022. Sofi Bajor - Editor Contents 4 News 6 Best Mountain Sports Mobile App Company 2022 Duofox Technologies 7 Best Novel Solid State Services Provider 2022 Solitek 8 Simple, Seamless, and Stress-free Business Sales Lion Business Brokers 10 Best Nutraceuticals & Biomedical Research Laboratory 2022 CidVID Investigación Biomédica No information contained on or in this website constitutes investment advice or an offer to invest or to provide management services and is subject to correction, completion and amendment without notice. Neither AI nor any of its associated entities are authorised to give financial advice of any nature nor are they regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Prior to making any investment, AI recommends that any prospective investor should consult with its own investment, accounting, legal and tax advisers to evaluate independently the risks, consequences and suitability of that investment. AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility. Editorial Team Sif Brookes, Senior Editor Sofi Bajor, Editor Daniel Long, Senior Writer Rebecca Scotland, Senior Writer Gabriel Muers, Writer Amelia Walker, Writer Dontae Jones, Writer Design Team Daniela Levinte, Graphic Designer Lauren Baldwin, Junior Graphic Designer 12 Leading Litigator Secures Success Law Offices of John Leon 14 Most Influential Emerging Technologies Businesswoman 2022: Julie Conti PlastikGas. LLC 16 The Rise of an Empire: How Critical Role Helped Shape an Industry Critical Role LLC 18 Most Innovative National Legal Solutions Provider 2022 Veritext Legal Solutions Canada 19 Winners’ Listings
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4 Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 News: from around the world New Tyto Relevance Index reveals how geopolitical conflict and artificial intelligence dominate European tech community social media debate • New service generates near real-time data on the key overarching themes that matter most to the European technology community on social media platforms • Monthly Index provides cutting edge thematic-level data to inform communication strategies Pan-European technology PR agency Tyto has today launched the Tyto Relevance Index, a data-powered insights service which uses social media data to reveal the technology and socioeconomic topics that dominate the public discourse of Europe’s technology community. Based on the public social media posts from almost two thousand UK, France and Germany influencers in the Tyto Tech 500 Power List community, the Tyto Relevance Index provides a monthly view of the most hotly debated global themes and trends at both a panEuropean and country level. These insights will enable marketing and communications leaders to develop sharper, more creative PR and marketing campaigns that are more relevant to the interests of a local tech audience. Through analysing both social-economic topics and technology topics in parallel, the Tyto Relevance Index provides a multidimensional view of how the European technology community is engaging with and responding to the greatest challenges facing the world. Tyto clients will receive near real-time thematic-level insights data at the start of each month and the data will also be published on Tyto’s website. The first edition of the Tyto Relevance Index is available here with insight into the key themes during August and September 2022. Topics such as AI and data economy lead the technology topic rankings, whilst geopolitical conflict and climate change together make up a significant proportion of the technology community’s socio-economic posts during September. The Index paints a picture of a European technology community that is significantly concerned with global instability, albeit with some subtle differences in focus at the country level. Key findings in the pan-European region include: • Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) was the leading technology topic in this region, referenced in nearly 1 in 4 (25%) social media posts. The influencers debated a wide variety of AI developments, from ethics to new breakthroughs. • Data economy was the second most popular topic and made up nearly 1 in 6 (16%) social media posts, followed by cybersecurity at 1 in 10 (11%), spurred by a number of high-profile cybersecurity incidents, including the well-publicised Uber breach. • Geopolitical conflict and instability was the most prominent socio-economic topic, making up nearly 1 in 5 (19%) social media posts with a focus on the war in Ukraine. • Climate change was the second most prominent topic of a socioeconomic nature, making up 1 in 6 (16%) social media posts as various reports and new data around the impact of climate change were released throughout the month. • Crypto was the third most prominent socio-economic topic and the focus of 1 in 10 (10%) social media posts. Across the UK, the key themes from UK-based influencers include: • Cybersecurity was the leading technology topic, making up more than 1 in 5 (23%) social media posts. • Data economy was the focus of nearly 1 in 6 (16%) social media posts related to technology. • Climate change was the dominating socio-economic topic in the UK, comprising 1 in 6 (17%) social media posts. • Geopolitical conflict and instability was the second most prominent topic of a socio-economic nature, making up over 1 in 10 (14%) social media posts. “The world’s most successful companies use data to inform key business decisions and communications should be no different,” said Nick Taylor, Senior Partner and Head of Corporate at Tyto. “After six years of identifying the most influential people in Europe for the Tyto Tech 500 Power List, we have expanded our offering to clients to provide insight into the key macro and micro themes that dominate public social media for the European technology community. By publishing the results monthly, businesses are better equipped to create smart PR and marketing campaigns which are grounded in local market insight. Taylor continued: “The data is fascinating, with concerns about global instability and uncertainty making up a significant percentage of the social posts that we analysed. The companies and individuals that will stay relevant against this backdrop will be those that can add meaningful value to the debate, through data or expertise, or demonstrate that their product or offering provides real solutions to these major global issues.” The new service forms part of Tyto’s strategy to leverage innovative data analysis to help its clients make more informed decisions about their communications strategies. It has been developed by Tyto Labs, which is focused on exploring new technologies, channels, services and methodologies to enhance the way Tyto operates and the services it offers. “The Tyto Relevance Index is an easily accessible format for businesses to get to grips with the diverse set of themes which are impacting the pan-European region,” said Liz Mead, Director at Tyto.
Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 5 Game-changing partnership between MEGMAR’s Multi Operator Hybrid Power solutions and PowerX AI automation will autonomously optimize performance and supply live maintenance information to tower network operations centres. PowerX Technology, the first AI platform to optimise tower infrastructure performance; and Megmar Holdings, the telecoms infrastructure solutions provider, announce the first stage roll-out of breakthrough technology for telecom tower operators. The solution promises to lower costs and greenhouse emissions from cell towers in rural Angola. It is an innovation that takes the industry forward in two giant technical leaps; firstly, by unlocking data intelligence to redefine remote monitoring, site operations and maintenance for entire cell tower networks and its equipment, and then by using AI to drive autonomous continuous site-level improvement at scale. Megmar’s deployment of PowerX will enable the local tower company’s Network Operations Centre [NOC] to see at-a-glance sites where resilience is at risk or which sites are running inefficiently, something they would otherwise be unable to do. The system also learns from past usage behaviour and even live weather reporting to automatically adjust load balancing and power usage to optimise performance with no manual interventions. For tower operators, this means they will no longer need to estimate when a component is nearing its end of life, is malfunctioning or if power reserves are running short. Instead, they will be able to engage in real-time with detailed operational information and dispatch engineers to solve problems only when they are needed, and with the right equipment to hand. Importantly, from energy use and cost per kWh, to managing the load on individual sites, the PowerX AI software deployment in Megmar tower cabinets will relay back to the NOC exactly how individual sites are running, and take in a range of data streams to autonomously optimise site behaviour to meet market needs and manage costs. Justin Head, CEO at PowerX, said, “Megmar’s expert local market knowledge, energy and openness enabled us to work closely together to calibrate the PowerX AI. Together, we have built a solution to meet their clients’ financial and environmental objectives in a way that no other Megmar to deploy PowerX AI to cut greenhouse emissions and costs at 100 Angolan cell tower sites solution could. We are now managing the load and energy requirements of the tower site without human interaction, in real time – it’s a radical new way of doing things.” Andre Herbst, CEO of Megmar, said, “Managing and maintaining cell towers in Africa is a complex and unpredictable task. When things go wrong on a site, which they eventually will, an engineer must often travel far to remote locations over rugged terrain in burning heat. Properly diagnosing the problem can often only be done on-site, so the engineer might not even have all the right kit in their truck. PowerX changes the game completely. It not only increases cost predictability for CFOs and reduces greenhouse gas outputs to help firms meet their environmental commitments, but the information it produces saves countless man hours and increases the length of life of expensive tower components.” One aspect of predictive maintenance is that it makes planning operational site visits much more predictable and cost-effective, while significantly reducing downtime by addressing problems before they become catastrophic.
6 Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 Best Mountain Sports Mobile App Company 2022 eakpoint is a unique connection between sports, people, and nature. It is a highly advanced mobile app which offers sport enthusiasts and mountain lovers alike the chance to record and save information on their ascents to mountain peaks all over the world. This includes the amount of time spent active, gained altitude difference, and number of calories burned, all of which can be shared with family, friends, and like-minded people. Users can compete to see who can conquer the most peaks! Sport Exercise in the mountains, motivation to achieve, but also pain, sacrifice, and pushing yourself to your very limit – This is the essence of Peakpoint. Psych up your colleagues, organise a competition, or prepare some weekend active fun for the children and see who makes it to the top first. Who will manage to chase down the marked peakpoints within the allotted time? Who is going to collect the most peakpoints each month? People Peakpoint means people – from extreme sports people and recreational hikers to families with children. It means loners and couples, but also lively groups of friends. Lovers of exercise, mountains, and good times – everybody is equal in the mountains! Family trips to the mountains create wonderful memories to be cherished forever – a sense of adventure as they take on the peaks together. Whether a holiday or weekend trip, the experience and feeling of being at the very top truly revitalises the soul. Create a unique database of all the world’s peaks that you have conquered, whether only yesterday, or five years ago. Every ascent will become an unforgettable memory in your sporting album. Save the pictures of all your ascents, and check out the people who have climbed your favourite mountains and get in touch with them. Nature Nature is beautiful and rugged, and it’s where we must rely on ourselves. We also need to look after it. We all take from nature, but we can also give. A project which began as a single idea for a simple geolocation touristic app at the beginning has become so much more than that. The app has its own currency, PEAKCOINS, for users to collect and spend on environmental projects that matter, such as the P Aug22499 Beskydy trees project which aims to restore the natural composition of the forest through genetically original seedlings. What are you waiting for? Join the world of mountain-loving people via the Peakpoint app, make new friends, take on challenges, and start your own! Peakpoint is also open to cooperation, support, and collaboration as it looks for a partner to nurture and spread the ideas of the PEAKPOINT project. Peakpoint would take great pride in expanding abroad – beyond the Czech borders. This is an opportunity not to be missed. Company: Duofox Technologies Contact: Petr Mohelnik, CEO Email: info@duofoxtechnologies.com Website: peakpointapp.com Peakpoint is a group of people who love nature, mountains, and sport. They’re people who like fun, and overcoming obstacles and challenges. They love nature and they want to look after it to make sure it’s here for future generations as well as being here for us now. They are all about connecting sport, people, and nature – Thus they created the Peakpoint app.
Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 7 As a company, Solitek has become known as a household name in the preformulation services industry. Nominally, its founders’ dedication to solid-state development in small molecule pharmaceuticals has secured this reputation, a touchstone from which it can expand into further preformulation, solid-state and crystallization services. With a dedication to helping its clients to resolve the challenges of operating in the modern world, it has delivered a variety of solutions, making itself an invaluable partner for its clients throughout their operations. Sep22472 olitek, a firm specialising in preformulation, solid-state and crystallization services, supports clients with programs from late discovery to early preclinical stages of development, and beyond to production, bringing the right experts to the right projects on a reliable basis. Solitek always invests in the right professionals and the best tools in order to find the blend of technologies and expertise that will best benefit its clients. The result is an experienced and profoundly effective team that boasts past work with other chemical developers. Such experienced and diligent people don’t pop up from nowhere, however. Thus, as well as hiring the best of the best, when it takes on a hire straight from the classroom, it enrols graduates in an in-depth training programme that teaches them the rigour of its standards, after which they are fully competent to participate with high value impact to a customer’s project. This not only gives the student in question a more solid foundation of practical learning for industry; it also betters the solid-state sector in the macro scale by bolstering the ranks of those specifically trained to excel within this field. Thriving on projects big S Best Novel Solid State Services Provider 2022 and small, it conducts large screening programmes and specific, smallscale problem solving alike, proud to show through this work that its staff are invigorated by challenge. Fundamentally, this aids it in reaching its goals for reducing drug development costs in the industry, optimising the physical properties of drugs entering clinical phases. Thus, this will reduce attrition rate and increase efficacy, saving time, money, and effort in the process which can all be redirected towards better and more practical things. Working with small and medium sized biotechnology businesses in general, it has been increasingly adding work with larger pharma companies into the mix; no matter the size of the client’s business or their requirements, it will always be determined to provide the best solution for the challenges in preformulation, solid-state and crystallization. With its staff being an important part of this process, its internal synergy is also something that is second to none. For each project, there is a team of scientists and a project manager, but in the wider scale, within that team there will be a myriad of different specialisms and academic backgrounds all working together to ensure that each angle and perspective is considered. Moreover, the commitment that each of its staff members has to the company and client, together with their backgrounds in medicinal chemistry, process development, and pharmaceutical production, sets it apart from its peers, together with a flexibility and agility that is unmatched by its larger competitors. In short: watch this space. Company: Solitek Contact: Victor Diaz Website: solitekpharma.com
8 Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 Oct22133 Simple, Seamless, and Stress-free Business Sales Are you looking to sell your business? Lion Business Brokers can ensure that you and your business move throughout the sales process without a hitch, offering you premium services that are supplied by its team of industry experts. As such, Lion Business Brokers has earned the accolade of M&A Advisors of the Year 2022 – USA for its devotion to producing and delivering quality. eadquartered in Texas, Lion Business Brokers is a trusted and well-established figure within the mergers and acquisitions industry, boasting a portfolio filled with high-value projects. The company focuses on business sales, business valuations, and of course, mergers and acquisitions, with the customer’s needs always being its main priority. Indeed, Lion Business Brokers bears a fiduciary responsibility to its clients; if the client does not have a successful exit, Lion Business Brokers does not have a successful engagement. With years of experience under its belt, the company is able to secure the very best solutions that offer premium results, tying into its goal to obtain maximum value for its clients. Since its founding, Lion Business Brokers has had the opportunity to represent a diverse array of businesses, the names of which it keeps confidential. However, the company does showcase a summary of businesses that it has previously represented, including service, construction, distribution, manufacturing, and retail organisations. Within these areas, Lion Business Brokers has worked with day cares, landscaping businesses, florists, bars, and much more, resulting in a vibrant and varied portfolio. Lion Business Brokers considers itself to be a generalist broker practice, which has cultivated an audience filled with a wide range of buyers looking for quality businesses to purchase. Not only does Lion Business Brokers support sellers, but it also provides buyer representation. Developed for those looking to bolster their net worth through the purchase of a business, its buyer representation services provide clients with access to businesses that are perfect for them. This is one of many benefits that come along with hiring a business broker. In short, Lion Business Brokers’ service is simple: it acts as an intermediary between the buyer and seller, which then translates to greater ease and fewer issues with the buying process. The company’s team are skilled in negotiation, business valuations, and acquisition, meaning that clients can be sure that they receive a confidential and professional buying experience. Lion Business Brokers credits its team with the success of the business, explaining that the team places what’s best for the client as a greater priority than their commissions. Passionate about H what they do, the team work hard to achieve better results for their clients, maintaining the exceptionally high standards laid out by the business. The team consists of alumni from the University of Texas, Baylor University, and Concordia University of Texas, and boasts decades of combined experience, with staff coming from accomplished backgrounds. Henceforth, it could be said that Lion Business Brokers has employed the best of the best. The company prides itself on providing an unmatched level of service, and this is truly thanks to the Lion Business Brokers team. Approaching its clients with a world-class attitude, Lion Business Brokers represents its clients with passion and integrity, which has created a positive reputation for the business. The five-star business has garnered a plethora of positive reviews, with clients praising each aspect of the business and its team. One example, left by a Private Equity Firm Managing Partner, reads as follows: ‘I have worked with Joshua on several projects. Joshua is a skilled intermediary who represents his clients well to the private equity community. He also does a good job with respect to educating his first-time sellers on the process and what to expect. We look forward to working with Joshua again.’ With business exploding in the post-Covid era, Lion Business Brokers can expect to delve into even greater success, as there are more active buyers in the market today than there have been in decades. Thanks to this saturation, Lion Business Brokers will have the opportunity to further diversify its work. The company’s future certainly looks bright, as there are dozens of plans in place that will lead to expansion and subsequent evolution. In a market that is currently increasing in size, this will be an exceptional advantage, pushing the company leagues ahead of its competitors. M&A Advisors of the Year 2022 – USA is a title that captures the heart of what Lion Business Brokers does. The company deserves this title as it exceeds customer expectations and sets the standard for the wider market, serving as an example for other mergers and acquisitions businesses. In essence, the future of the industry lies with Lion Business Brokers. Contact: Joshua Carnes Company: Lion Business Brokers Web: https://lionbusinessbrokers.com/
Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 9 Simple, Seamless, and Stress-free Business Sales
10 Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 Aug22211 Best Nutraceuticals & Biomedical Research Laboratory 2022 Leading the way for nutraceuticals and biomedical research laboratories, CidVID Investigación Biomédica sets a high bar for others in the industry, as it is known for its driven and accurate work. From kidney disease to cancer, the research centre is determined to uncover the ins and outs of such ailments in order to create and optimise treatments. idVID Investigación Biomédica is a clinical research centre located in Mexico. The innovative organisation covers several health areas – including cancers, childhood migraines, and arterial hypertension – for which it has the infrastructure, equipment, and talent to effectively carry out Phase I, II, III, and IV clinical trials. CidVID Investigación Biomédica utilises cutting-edge technology in both the implementation and monitoring of its projects, and in turn, it has become known as a pioneer in Mexico and Latin America, as its advanced approach has separated it from its competition. The research laboratory is proud of its devotion to conducting clinical trials across their different phases, as it has undertaken projects for pharmaceutical products, nutraceuticals, medical devices, and other products that seek to demonstrate efficacy and tangible results. With locations in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Aguascalientes, it’s clear to see that CidVID Investigación Biomédica possesses a wide reach, with subjects coming from across Mexico, ultimately meaning that CidVID Investigación Biomédica offers an unbiased, diverse, and strongly supported service to the nutraceuticals and biomedical research sectors. As such, CidVID Investigación Biomédica is currently working on research and active protocols for dyslipidaemia, arterial hypertension, melanomas, childhood migraines, lupus, and much more. According to CidVID Investigación Biomédica, this encapsulates scientific research that tests new treatments in a safe and effective way to treat diseases, with the goal being to determine whether the new treatment is better than the ones that are currently on the market. With in excess of 50 research studies taking place per annum, CidVID Investigación Biomédica is a hotbed of information, with ground-breaking techniques and findings consistently stemming from the clinical research centre. Stating that its priority is health, CidVID Investigación Biomédica is also home to the most important kidney disease research centre in Latin America, through which it develops and promotes nephrology research projects to boost knowledge surrounding kidney disease. As CidVID Investigación Biomédica works with a sister company in this field, it has developed an extensive database of patients who it endeavours to provide with a personalised service. Moreover, the contemporary and sleek facility is one of the largest haemodialysis centres in the Mexican State, Jalisco, with a maximum capacity of 41 haemodialysis treatments taking place simultaneously. Indeed, CidVID Investigación Biomédica conducts itself with professionalism and decorum; it believes that, within this industry C especially, transparency and integrity are a necessity. People need to be able to trust its findings. It is this attitude that has led the clinical research centre to success, as it has certified the company’s devotion to producing results that are fair, tangible, and beneficial. In essence, CidVID Investigación Biomédica’s work is deeply rooted in ethics – it wants to do the right and just thing. Such ideals are embedded within the CidVID Investigación Biomédica team, who spend a great amount of time learning the best methods and upskilling to remain on top of the current legislation and requirements. Consisting of industry leaders, the team hosts expertise in psychology, pharmaceuticals, nutrition, and an array of medical conditions. Centuries of combined experience backs the team, which is filled with alumni from a number of prestigious institutions, informing the decision making behind some of the organisation’s largest projects. Research and trials are often carried out in tandem with some of the world’s leading laboratories. Henceforth, CidVID Investigación Biomédica has acquired several certifications that certify its legitimacy and success. The company is ICHE6 and NOM-012 compliant and remains in line with international standards. On top of this, CidVID Investigación Biomédica is FDA Inspected, with results finding that the FDA ‘did not identify any objectional conditions or practices,’ with this inspection covering the conduct of research and the safety and welfare of the company’s human research subjects. Science and the advancement of the medical sphere is something that is important and integral to human existence; without it, we would be nothing. Many of the world’s contemporary treatments have passed through facilities such as CidVID Investigación Biomédica and have gone on to change and even save people’s lives. Simply, the work that CidVID Investigación Biomédica carries out is vital to the preservation of human life, whether that be orchestrating research into cancer treatments or providing patientswith top of the range haemodialysis. The clinical research centre can therefore be named Best Nutraceuticals & Biomedical Research Laboratory 2022, as it exudes respect, ingenuity, and intelligence whilst conducting much needed research into some of the most prevalent diseases and ailments. Contact: Marco Cid Company: CidVID Investigación Biomédica Web Address: https://investigacionbiomedica.com.mx
Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 11 Best Nutraceuticals & Biomedical Research Laboratory 2022
12 Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 Sep22468 Leading Litigator Secures Success If you’re in trouble, you deserve help of the highest calibre. For the people of Florida, that is clearly John Leon of the Law Offices of John Leon. Named Leading Health Care Litigation Attorney of the Year, Florida in Acquisition International’s Leading Adviser Awards 2022, to uncover some of the secrets of his astounding success. ince entering the legal industry, John Leon has worked on behalf of some of the largest, most prolific state and national law firms. With a level of expertise that is truly second to none, he has had a transformative effect on many clients over the years, representing them to the highest standards. Founded in 2003, the Law Offices of John Leon have allowed him the flexibility he has needed to offer service goes above and beyond every time. As a full-service civil litigation firm, Mr. Leon has found immense success in the areas of corporate law, Crisis Management and personal injury. He and his incredible team have been proud to represent clients throughout Florida, the Continental United States, Caribbean and South America. Several Fortune 500 companies have relied upon his tremendous skill to ensure success in their projects. Mr. Leon’s career began as counsel to names such as Washington DC based Verner, Lipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand. Always ambitious and eager to prove himself, he was one of the most active young trial lawyers in South Florida, trying fifteen jury trials in the first eight months of his career. Such a proactive approach has not tempered over the years, and Mr. Leon’s natural environment remains the courtroom, fighting for the rights of his clients to the best of his considerable ability. Mr. Leon’s success in the Leading Advisor Awards 2022 reflects his ability to represent injured individuals and wrongful death plaintiffs, those who have been hurt through no fault of their own. In this vulnerable situations, it pays to have someone who is passionate about your cause and determined not to let the situation slip away. With an impressive track record of success in this particular sector, it’s little wonder that Mr. Leon remains in such high demand. His incredible skills in the courtroom have also allowed him to explore the realm of crisis management. As one of the top lawyers in the country, he is ideally positioned to assist clients with complex healthcare litigation & transaction corporate matters. For a business, having to respond to these issues is immensely challenging, and having an expert on hand to protect professional and personal reputations is crucial. Mr. Leon has provided successful crises resolution for clients involving several Fortune 100 companies over the years, proving his skill in this area. As a recognised name within the industry, it’s little wonder that Mr. Leon is also in high demand as an Adjunct Professor and Guest Lecturer at local colleges and universities. His unique perspective on subjects including US History, English, Mathematics, Sociology and Political Theory are often well-received. He has also been called S upon as a legal expert when the need to discuss various current events arises. As the world continues to shift, the need for litigators who are on your side becomes ever more crucial. With a track record of success, and as one of the USA’s most prestigious lawyers, we celebrate the success of Mr. Leon, and look forward to the triumphs he is certain to achieve in the future. Company: Law Offices of John Leon Name: John Leon Email: jleon@johnleonlaw.com
Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 13 oo Kwan Lee & Lo – a law firm with a huge depth and breadth of services – has cut its teeth on the impeccable service of commercial clients since day 1. With the four expert minds of its founders leading the way for it, its clients, its peers, and its wider industry in Hong Kong, Woo Kwan Lee & Lo has been able to develop into a household name in its region, having attained over 300 staff since its rebrand. Indeed, it now occupies three offices in Hong Kong and one in Beijing, with plans to expand even further so that it may widen its client base, expending its services to benefit so many more clients, even more than it already does. Working mainly with commercial entities, it also offers its legal services to individuals through its major departments such as conveyancing. Additionally, it handles both corporate and commercial conveyancing, litigation, and a PRC division, with members of its professional W team – some of whom have been practicing for more than 30 years – providing one or more of these with a huge amount of tenacity, determination, and efficiency, getting to know the client and their individual wants and needs with a true care and passion behind it. It uses the time getting to know its clients to implement the strategies that will best serve their needs – especially when it comes to PRC and secretarial services – with clients lauding its communicative staff as second-to-none. Thus, its clients both local and further afield have made it their one-stop-shop, calling its processes and procedures a true reflection of ‘client interest first’ legislative service, giving them access to a broad range of services that are each as comprehensively handled as the next. Indeed, it also has a policy of encouraging partners and staff to participate in the service of Hong Kong as a community, something that has secured it as a cornerstone of its region as well as a leading voice of industry. A talented law firm with a vast array of different talents, Woo Kwan Lee Lo has built itself up to be a comprehensive any to legislative service for its clients. Founded in 1962, Messrs. Charles Lee Yeh Kwong and Stephen Lo Chi Nang founded Charles Lee & Stephen Lo, hitting the ground running as an innovative and forward-thinking firm that soon attracted two other founding minds. With each of these people pooling their experience, resources, connections, and talents to make the firm the best it could be, it soon rebranded to Woo Kwan Lee & Lo, growing from strength to strength since then to become the provider of a full compliment of legal work for commercial clients. Sep22252 Best PRC & Company Secretarial Service Provider - Hong Kong Company: Woo Kwan Lee & Lo Contact: Donis Chan Website: wkll.com 626 Jo 108,000 Readers in Over 170 Countries Subscribe: www.acquisition-international.com/subscribe
14 Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 May22337 Most Influential Emerging Technologies Businesswoman 2022: Julie Conti Plastic is causing severe environmental, social, economic, and health crises globally. We have become addicted to single-use plastic, with over one million plastic bottles being purchased around the world per minute, and up to five trillion plastic bags being used and thrown away annually. Vice President of PlastikGas, Julie Conti, alongside her team, is on a mission to curb this abuse to our planet and help mother nature to heal herself from the damage of plastic waste by creating an alternative fuel in the face of an ever-shrinking natural fuel supply. ndeed, the aim of PlastikGas is to provide a solution to the global problem that is plastic waste by converting plastic waste into useable fuel – with no environmental contamination, and all while restoring ecological balance worldwide. It is the only company in the world that can processall seven typesof plasticandmakesixdifferent fuels simultaneously without additional refining – gasoline, diesel, kerosene, paraffin, PLG, and coal, with no emission or catalyst. It is the first to bring 102 octane gasoline and cetane 55 diesel to the market at an industrial scale. Other companies that convert plastic to fuel can only use two to three types of plastic, making only one type of fuel, naphtha, which then has to be trucked to a refinery (PlastikGas’ fuel is ready for the end-user immediately) for a further refining process to only produce diesel with about a 60% yield (PlastikGas has a 100% yield – and its plant is built to operate at an industrial level, not a garage plant like most others). From its bases in Dallas, Quito, and Barcelona, PlastikGas builds processing plants, licensing anyone its proprietary plastic to fuel conversion technology. It designs and builds clients’ plastic waste conversion plants on their own land, anywhere around the world, and its construction company and team of engineers will assist in the campus build out of the plastic waste conversion plant, as well as provide 12 months of operational support. The plant will be up and running in six to nine months and the ROI is 12 to 24 months, depending on the size of the plant purchased. I For those who are interested in investing in a PlastikGas processing plant, it does require a substantial initial investment, including the purchase of the plant in addition to building the infrastructure and hiring the personnel to maintain the plant. Infrastructure includes site preparation, construction of support facilities, fencing, and security and shredder, to name a few. Additionally, as the owner, you will be in charge of all aspects of the plant including obtaining feedstock supply, fuel production, offtake, and sales. The success and ROI are proportionate to hard work, business acumen, and leadership effectiveness. PlastikGas takes pride in getting to know its plant owners through an extensive selection process. Competitive applicants will show evidence of financial integrity and stewardship, proven business leadership and business acumen, an entrepreneurial spirit, a growth mindset, and strong character. As Vice President of PlastikGas, Julie gives us an insight into the company’s greatest achievement so far: “Bringing this technology to the forefront and making it available to the general public in order to build as many PlastikGas plants as possible in order to rid the world of plastic!” She goes on to tell us about what she’d say to others who are looking to take the same career route as herself: “This is a great time to enter into this industry; the technology is exciting and the world is drowning in plastic along with a shortage of fuels. My advice would be to talk to as many people as you can to try to get your local recycling companies involved. Look for investors. PlastikGas will build the plant and deliver it to your location – we will teach you how to operate it and support you for years to come.” Ultimately, PlastikGas’ vision is to provide a solution to the global problem of plastic waste by building plastic to fuel conversion plants worldwide – In addition to establishing PlastikGas USA, PlastikGas Latin America, and PlastikGas Europe, it will have 100 or more plants built worldwide by 2030. Company: PlastikGas. LLC. Contact: Julie Conti Website: plastikgas.com Indeed, the aim of PlastikGas is to provide a solution to the global problem that is plastic waste by converting plastic waste into useable fuel – with no environmental contamination, and all while restoring ecological balance worldwide.
Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 15 Most Influential Emerging Technologies Businesswoman 2022: Julie Conti
16 Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 The Rise of an Empire: How Critical Role Helped Shape an Industry rom defeating imaginary dragons in living rooms to doing the same before a camera and a multitude of viewers, Critical Role has experienced incredible growth as a brand and as a community. Indeed, since it broke away from its original host channel Geek and Sundry to become Critical Role LLC, it has achieved a great number of truly astounding landmarks; fromKickstarting hugemultimedia content projects in a matter of hours to gathering huge sums for charity, all its cumulative efforts have earned it a firm place in the hearts and minds of the international tabletop roleplaying game community. As a result, the community itself has undergone somewhat of a renaissance. Although the hobby has been around for decades, and there has always been a business side to it thanks to the publishers of the various games selling their wares, tabletop roleplaying games as broadcasted entertainment is relatively new. Ostensibly, this has made for the advent of a new form of creative media broadcast. Sometimes live streamed, and sometimes pre-recorded for later editing and release, such shows use the medium of TTRPG games to frame their narratives, allowing creators to play within the sandbox of a world that comes with an in-built market of people who love them. Critical Role is the single biggest phenomenon of this kind, and it has shaped much of what the resulting industry of TTRPGs as broadcasted creative performances has become. This is not to say that it is the only changemaker in this sphere; indeed, channels such as Dimension 20 and even publisher specific channels such as World of Darkness are incredibly influential in their own rights, but there is no enterprise within this ever-growing, ever-changing bold new world of creative talent quite as expansive and well-known as Critical Role. This company, in many ways, has been a true boon as an industry leader. With its focus on altruism, led by President of the Critical Role foundation and original cast member Ashley Johnson, it has been able to fund a variety of different non-profits from those that help disadvantaged children access storytelling through tabletop to those that provide emergency relief in times of strife. It has brought TTRPGs more into the mainstream consciousness, making them F more accessible to a wider market and providing a gateway into the more obscure reaches of the hobby. It has also been an interesting market indicator for tabletop streaming and show production, as Critical Role as a business and as a show has very much evolved in tandem. The show itself began with them taking their home game to the screen, as so many others did before and after them. However, as they began to take off, this came with teething problems that would become emblematic of the industry. Again, this is a net positive. Critical Role have been, overly the years, extremely dedicated to sharing their progress and their journey with the community that watches their content, happily collaborating with and chatting to smaller creators in order to do its part in giving its burgeoning industry a leg up. However, being such a new industry, and with even the heaviest hitters learning on the job, it’s no wonder the field has head its ups and downs. From cast issues wherein one member of the original group had to step away to production problems such as audio issues learning the dos and don’ts of livestreaming, many of the issues that Critical Role went through on their journey has helped to give budding TTRPG production professionals a perfect place to start leaning from the veterans. Many of the defining elements of TTRPG broadcasting as in industry can be double edged swords, after all, such as living and dying by one’s community. Critical Role has faced backlash and drama over the years – none of which has been able to damage its reputation irreparably – but enough that several the cast have commented on receiving hurtful comments or harsh criticism either professionally or through personal posts. It also suffers the issue of being the most popular expression of the industry, and therefore the most targeted when trite commentary about the nature or effectiveness of the medium is made. This is something that is reflected in all parts of the TTRPG community, although sometimes it is used to affect important change in outing abusive, manipulative, or unprofessional people in the industry. Another issue that can be faced by professionals in tabletop – again, as demonstrated by Critical Role – is the pitfalls of being part of an As so many things do, Critical Role, the now multi-million-dollar company, started small. What began as a tabletop roleplay group in 2012 is now one of the highest-earning entities on the platform it broadcasts from on Thursday nights, and a full-blown international phenomenon. Of course, with such incredible growth over a short period of time, there have been wider implications for tabletop roleplay in the macro scale; not only has this propelled the hobby into mainstream prominence, but it has given wings to the rise of TTRPG broadcasting as an industry, with all the opportunities and challenges such a paradigm shift entails.
Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 17 The Rise of an Empire: How Critical Role Helped Shape an Industry industry that hasn’t been around long enough to have set standards of good practice in place yet. With contract-driven employment, payment for performers, treatment of cast, and so much more still in constant flux, shaped by the community behind it, even big budget companies such as Critical Role can be hit hard by issues brought on by such ambiguity, such as in a recent debacle that posed the question of how IP protection and copyright law apply to broadcasted tabletop games when a character was claimed to have been ‘stolen’ by the company from a TikTok creator. This issue, among others, isn’t unique to the company or characters in question, but they important conundrums that the whole industry must answer in order to learn, grow, and move forward. Indeed, it is clear from such teething problems that despite the leaps and bounds the entire field has come in terms of payment, copyright, production, and more, there is much more work to do. But with such enthusiastic and inspiring people as those behind Critical Role leading it from the front, bearing the torch for the nerdy little hobby so many grew up loving, such work is ongoing so that today’s professionals can leave the industry ‘better than we found it’. Company: Critical Role LLC Website: https://critrole.com/
18 Acquisition International - Issue 11 2022 team is smart, talented, and driven, and is therefore able to offer customers an exceptional service. As such, Veritext pushes its employees to continuously upskill and evolve, and it provides its team – including the Veritext University – with the resources to do so. It provides its employees with the skills and infrastructure to navigate the intense and often stressful industry. In order to cultivate such a team, Veritext has prioritised hiring the right people, utilising its dedicated People Team to support its staff and contractors, bolster development and recruitment, and identify internal talent. Additionally, Veritext is in the process of developing an extensive network of court reporting professionals with the aim of providing ongoing professional support and development to all of its contractors. Its Director of Court Reporting is focused on creating cohesive programming and recruitment for its extended team across North America. On top of all this, Veritext has a strong support for the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology – which is the only professional programme in Canada. In an industry that is experiencing a multitude of challenges, this is a benefit, as it has allowed Veritext to remain on top of any industry developments. For example, technology has played an increasingly important role in law over the past few years, optimising and streamlining court proceedings. Veritext has been at the forefront of such developments. In fact, the company recently took part in a trial that was the first of its kind in scope and magnitude in British Columbia. With this evolution in full swing, Veritext’s mission has evolved into a desire to support its people and adapt to the changing landscape, ultimately bettering the industry. Veritext’s passion for change, social responsibility, equity and inclusion initiatives, and sustainable operations showcase the company as a clear standout within the industry. Quite simply, the company wants to bring about meaningful and sustainable change. By joining forces with the brightest minds in Canada and North America, Veritext hopes to serve as the catalyst for such evolutions, positively influencing the court reporting and legal services world. Henceforth, the company has been named Most Innovative National Legal Solutions Provider 2022. Contact: Kiran Deol Company: Veritext Legal Solutions Canada Web Address: Veritext.ca Most Innovative National Legal Solutions Provider 2022 ince its 1997 genesis, Veritext has established itself as one of the best-known partners in litigation technology and legal services for law firms, government agencies, and enterprise corporations in North America. The company specialises in providing its clients with access to innovative and tailored solutions, data security, the highest quality network of reporters and transcriptionists, unmatched expertise in multi-party and complex litigation, and state-of-the-art conference spaces. Indeed, such services support Veritext’s goal to be an integral part of its clients’ litigation processes and the partner of choice. Over the past 25 years, Veritext has had the opportunity to work on an abundance of exciting projects, including several e-trials in its Vancouver, Victoria and Toronto regions for which it has built the e-trial platform, provided the hardware/software and delivered all necessary training to counsel, judges and courthouse staff, and it can provide an in-court document technician to run the platform and support the technology. Moreover, Veritext facilitates the virtual attendance of trial witnesses, supports real-time reporting, and regularly streams the real-time court feeds to viewers and participants around the world. With this in mind, Veritext endeavours to always abide by its core values, striving to be respectful, ethical, collaborative, accountable, and professional at all times. The company is committed to retaining first-rate professionals throughout every level of the company – its S Oct22016 At the epicentre of Canada’s legal solutions industry is Veritext Legal Solutions Canada. For over two decades, the company has been supplying its clients with bespoke services that aim to streamline and strengthen the legal journey.
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