Days after Amazon announced a search for a second headquarters location, members of the DC Mastermind Group had a lot to discuss, especially how large companies choose where to settle; how big deals with companies are put together, from incentives to claw-backs; and the different approaches DC, Maryland and Virginia take to court business to their jurisdictions. Olivia Byrne, Partner at K&L Gates and Champion of the DC Group reminded attendees that the key to garnering incentives at the state and local level is to engage in conversations very early on – many companies wait until they are too far down the road and have lost their leverage.