Pittsburgh partner Scott Westwood predicts M&A activity will be “a continuation of the hot industries of 2015 bleeding into 2016.” Westwood, who is quoted at length in the Mergermarket.com article “Experts cautiously optimistic on MidAtlantic,” published on Jan. 12, expects the drop in oil and gas prices to result in more M&A deals in the energy sector, and anticipates that Congress’s recent extension of the investment tax credit for renewables will lead to an uptick in solar industry M&A. He also comments on how volatility in markets such as China and Brazil will likely lead to more deals by cash-flush strategic buyers and private equity firms.