Mike Baader, Partner-in-Charge of Venable's Baltimore office, was quoted in a story about the area’s recent surge in merger activity in the Aug. 27 edition of the Baltimore Business Journal.

According to the story, activity in mergers and acquisitions is expected to increase as buyers and sellers try to get deals done before the end of the year.

Baader has seen a strong flow of deals this year, and is seeing a flurry of negotiations locally. Venable represents clients in as many as 10 deals that Baader hopes to close this year. Many of the deals involve government contractors because of the robust business coming from the federal government.

Baader said many would-be sellers are concerned about a scheduled increase in the federal tax on capital gains. On January 1, the tax rate on most capital gains is set to increase from 15 percent to 20 percent, although businesses are lobbying to prevent the increase.

"You'll have to sell for seven to eight percent more to break even from a tax perspective," Baader said about closing a deal after December 31. "I think that is going to influence sellers who are on the fence."