Veteran M&A Attorney Reflects on 40 Years of Dealmaking

Robert S. Bick shares insights on the evolving M&A landscape and offers advice for young lawyers

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Robert S. Bick, a partner at Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett, has spent nearly 40 years as an M&A attorney, closing over $3 billion in transactions. In an interview, Bick reflects on his path into M&A law, shares his outlook for the M&A market in 2026, and provides advice for young attorneys looking to build a practice in the field.

Why it matters

Bick's experience and perspective offer valuable insights into the current state and future trajectory of the M&A industry, which is a critical component of the broader business landscape. His advice for young lawyers also provides guidance for those seeking to establish careers in corporate transactional work.

The details

Bick began his M&A career when he was recruited by firm co-founder Rick Williams to join the practice after working on a transaction on the opposing side. At the time, the M&A industry was less developed, with Bick's firm handling tasks that would now typically go to specialized firms. However, the firm's reputation for completing numerous lower middle-market private equity deals led to a steady flow of new business. Looking ahead, Bick is optimistic about the M&A landscape in 2026, predicting a continuation of the strong activity seen in the second half of 2025. He cites stabilizing prices, an abundance of capital, and declining inflation as factors contributing to this outlook, though he notes that his firm focuses on lower middle-market deals rather than mega-transactions.

  • Bick has been an attorney for nearly 40 years.
  • The Detroit Pistons were sold in 2011, with Bick serving as co-counsel for the former owners.
  • Bick expects a strong M&A market in 2026, building on the momentum from the second half of 2025.

The players

Robert S. Bick

A partner at the law firm Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett, where he co-chairs the corporate practice group. Bick has over 40 years of experience in M&A law, having closed more than $3 billion in transactions.

Rick Williams

A co-founder of the law firm Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett, who recruited Bick to join the firm's M&A practice.

Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett

A law firm that has a reputation for completing numerous lower middle-market private equity deals, despite being a relatively small firm.

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What they’re saying

“I was a young attorney working on a transaction with [firm co-founder] Rick Willliams. I was on the other side, and Rick said, 'Would you like to come and work on with me?'”

— Robert S. Bick, Partner, Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett (milawyersweekly.com)

“There are cycles in M&A. … In 2022-2024, things started to decline [due to] rising inflation [and] interest rates. [But] the last half of 2025 was very active. Prices have stabilized, so more sellers are coming to the market. There's an abundance of capital — inflation has in the last year come down a little bit — so there's rising optimism in 2026. Everybody I've talked to [is] predicting that 2026, barring some bump in the road, is going to be a pretty active year, a continuation of the second half of 2025.”

— Robert S. Bick, Partner, Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett (milawyersweekly.com)

“[My advice is to] get involved, both in bar organizations and organizations that are related to your field. Learn as much as you can and don't assume you know everything. Network all you can because all of those things will help you build a practice.”

— Robert S. Bick, Partner, Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett (milawyersweekly.com)

What’s next

Bick expects the strong M&A market to continue into 2026, with a potential for some "mega deals" from the end of 2025 to carry over into the new year.

The takeaway

Bick's long-standing experience in the M&A field provides valuable insights into the evolving industry dynamics and the importance of networking, continuous learning, and building a specialized practice for young attorneys looking to establish careers in corporate transactional work.