When it comes to deal lawyers and cybersecurity, the discussion is often over whether law firms are a weak link in their clients’ data defenses. But what about lawyers’ obligations to probe for cyber weaknesses within the companies doing the deals?

M&A professionals should assess companies on both sides of a transaction for potential cyberthreats, said Milan Patel, managing director at K2 Intelligence, who likened the process to a real estate adviser counseling potential home buyers.