Private equity's annual NEXUS 2026 conference will feature Clearlake's José E. Feliciano and CPIM's David Checketts as keynote speakers. The event will also spotlight recent activity in the legal tech sector, with firms like Francisco Partners and Renovus Capital driving consolidation.

The conference comes as better-for-you foods continue to fuel M&A activity in the consumer sector. Industry observers note that health-conscious consumers are driving increased valuations for companies with clean-label products and sustainable practices. This trend has accelerated dealmaking across multiple segments of the food industry.

Legal tech remains a particularly active area for private equity investment, with multiple firms reporting increased deal flow in software solutions for law firms and corporate legal departments. The combination of technological advancement and market demand has created favorable conditions for both platform builds and add-on acquisitions in this space.