This is Part 2 of our 3-part series The Exit Blueprint: M&A Strategy for HVAC Leaders.
You think your business is sale-ready because the P&L looks clean? Think again.
In this episode, Ashlei Rolloff sits down with Mary Ellen Reihsen, Partner at Hellmuth & Johnson, to reveal the legal traps that kill HVAC M&A deals during due diligence—and the people-first legal strategies that actually protect your valuation.
They discuss:
- Why employment shortcuts resurface (and cost millions) during M&A due diligence
- What “instant unemployment” means when your company sells—and how to structure retention
- The real math behind turnover vs. retention during private equity deals
- How to legally protect institutional knowledge ("The Bob Problem")
- What goes in a well-drafted employment agreement in today’s post non-compete world
Mary Ellen brings both legal insight and grounded perspective to the process—and breaks down exactly how HVAC business owners can prepare for a clean, confident exit.
Referenced Links:
Mary Ellen Reihsen – Hellmuth & Johnson
Email Mary Ellen Reihsen: mreihsen@hjlawfirm.com
Women in HVACR: https://www.womeninhvacr.org
Quote to Remember: "
Everybody is unemployed for that instant. It feels jarring, but it’s a legal reset—and you have to prepare for it."
– Mary Ellen Reihsen
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.