AI isn’t just a buzzword in deal rooms—it’s changing how due diligence, contracts, privacy, and integration actually work after close. In this episode, Lisa sits down with tech lawyer Rob Taylor to unpack what “AI risk” really means, why lawyers must understand the technology to spot legal exposure, and how companies can move fast and responsibly. Rob shares practical frameworks from hundreds of AI solution reviews, dives into agentic AI (and why risk goes up when the human leaves the loop), and explains common contract myths—like over-relying on vendor indemnities.

What You’ll Learn

• Why real AI risk assessment starts with understanding the tech (data flows, inputs/outputs, model behavior)
• How to scope AI due diligence in M&A: model licensing, data rights, bias testing, and post-close liability
• Agentic AI vs. “plain” generative AI—and what that means for governance and oversight
• The truth about indemnities in AI contracts (and why deployers still carry duties)
• Copyright & IP in AI-generated works—what’s unsettled and how to think about ownership today
• Practical first steps to adopt AI responsibly without over-engineering

Key Takeaways

• Tech first, then law: If you don’t understand the architecture and data flows, you’ll miss the legal risk.
• Human-in-the-loop matters: As systems become more agentic and autonomous, oversight must increase.
• DD for AI is specific: Go beyond licenses—probe training data, testing for bias, monitoring, and downstream use.
• Indemnity ≠ immunity: Deployers still have duties to prevent harms; don’t outsource responsibility.
• IP is evolving: Treat AI like a tool—document meaningful human direction and edits.

Connect

• Rob Taylor, JD: LinkedIn; Carstens, Allen & Gourley LLP; NXTSolve
• In2Edge: Post-acquisition integration, contract management, and hands-on transition execution. Learn more at In2Edge.com.

If today’s conversation hit home—especially around AI-heavy diligence or integration—follow and share M&A+: The Art After the Deal. And if you’re navigating a complex transition, In2Edge can help you turn strategy into working systems.

To learn more, visit: https://in2edge.com/

Lisa sits down with litigator and tax specialist Joshua Smeltzer to unpack how Texas is positioning itself as a digital-asset hub, what the new business-court and “business judgment rule” mean for companies, and how tax and regulatory choices ripple through M&A, treasury strategy, and day-to-day operations. From plain-English explanations of blockchains and NFTs to real-world pitfalls like staking-reward taxation and balance-sheet Bitcoin, Joshua translates complexity into practical moves leaders can make now.

Why listen

• Understand how Texas policy (business courts, SB29) may reduce friction and risk in complex deals.
• Get a clear, non-technical definition of “digital assets” (beyond just crypto).
• Learn the most common digital-asset tax traps—and how to avoid them.
• Hear how treasury strategies that include Bitcoin change deal terms and diligence.

Key Takeaways

Texas is engineering deal confidence.

SB29 codifies the business judgment rule and narrows who can bring internal claims; Texas Business Courts create a specialized venue for complex disputes—both can reduce litigation overhang and speed decisions.

Digital assets ≠ just crypto.

Think tokenized rights, NFT titles/provenance, and blockchain-based records—with use cases expanding beyond finance.

Tax rules are evolving (slowly).

Crypto treated as property drives capital-gains reporting; staking rewards timing is under active challenge; expect more 1099 reporting from exchanges.

Treasury Bitcoin changes M&A.

Buyers and sellers may need volatility-aware terms (collars, true-ups, working-capital-like mechanics) when significant BTC sits on the balance sheet.

Sovereignty vs safety.

Self-custody is powerful—but operational risk (keys, loss) is real. Policy and tooling maturity will determine mainstream adoption.

Guest Links

Joshua on LinkedIn (active commentary & article shares): (7) Joshua Smeltzer | LinkedIn

Forbes column (digital assets, Texas policy, tax/litigation insights): The TeX Factor For Traditional And Digital Asset Businesses

Gray Reed blog: (7) Gray Reed: Posts | LinkedIn

Episode Quote

“In 2030, we’re going to be fine. We’ve been through a lot—and we’ll navigate this era the same way: with clarity, good judgment, and practical rules.”

Listen next: Episodes on TXSE, carve-out playbooks, and AI’s impact on diligence.

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only and reflects the personal views and experiences of the participants. It should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Always consult with your own qualified advisors regarding your specific situation before making business or legal decisions.

About In2edge:

In2edge is the consulting firm behind this podcast — helping companies navigate the complex world of post-M&A execution. From contract transitions to procurement, supplier onboarding to compliance, In2edge brings practical, hands-on solutions that go beyond the strategy decks and into real operational impact.

Subscribe to M&A+:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast. And remember, sometimes the smartest move a leader can make is simply asking a great question.

To learn more, visit: https://in2edge.com/

In this episode of M&A+ The Art After the Deal, Lisa Scott sits down with Tim Savage, CPA and Tax Partner at Weaver, who leads the firm’s Blockchain & Digital Assets practice. Tim shares how he built a crypto-forward tax practice inside a traditional firm, where digital assets fit in M&A due diligence, and the tax levers that quietly drive value (or risk) after close. The conversation also digs into stagflation signals, treasury diversification, and one simple move companies can make today to future-proof.

You’ll learn:

• How Tim went from Big Four tax to leading a digital assets practice at Weaver
• What really changes in M&A when a target holds Bitcoin/crypto (custody, controls, valuation)
• The tax traps in carve-outs and integrations: 83(b), 409A, state nexus (Wayfair), transaction costs
• Deal design in plain English: asset vs. stock, §338(h)(10), §351, §368, and when §1202 (QSBS) matters
• Stagflation 101 and why scarce assets (incl. Bitcoin) are back in boardroom discussions
• The one practical step a CEO can take now to get ready for the next decade

Guest: Tim Savage — CPA, Tax Partner at Weaver; leads Blockchain & Digital Assets; Board member, Texas Blockchain Council; speaker at Bitcoin 2023–2025.

Quotes

• “Tax can quietly make or break the value of a deal.”
• “If a target holds Bitcoin, diligence the custody like you would the vault.”
• “Today’s ‘high’ may be tomorrow’s ‘new low’ as adoption compounds.”

Links

• Guest: Tim Savage (Weaver): weaver.com
• Texas Blockchain Council: texasblockchaincouncil.org
• Host: Lisa Scott (In2edge / Intuitive Edge): in2edge.com

Disclaimer

This conversation is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult your professional advisors.

About In2edge:

In2edge is the consulting firm behind this podcast — helping companies navigate the complex world of post-M&A execution. From contract transitions to procurement, supplier onboarding to compliance, In2edge brings practical, hands-on solutions that go beyond the strategy decks and into real operational impact.

Subscribe to M&A+:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast. And remember, sometimes the smartest move a leader can make is simply asking a great question.

To learn more, visit: https://in2edge.com/