John J. Koeppel, independent sponsor attorney, partner at Lippes Mathias LLP, and leader of the firm’s independent sponsor and private equity practice teams, will serve as moderator during a featured discussion at the 2025 Independent Sponsor Forum (ISF) Deal Series in Chicago, hosted in partnership with the Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA). The one-day private equity conference takes place on September 10, 2025, at the Hilton Chicago and brings together vetted capital providers and independent sponsors from across the country. 

Koeppel will lead a fireside chat titled Avoiding Due Diligence Traps in Independent Sponsor Deals, joined by Tye Hernandez of Aspen HR, Kevin Speight of Plexus, and Andy Tatman of Resolute Capital. The panel will explore frequent pitfalls in independent sponsor deal diligence, offering insights into how private equity professionals can manage legal and operational risk throughout the transaction process. 

The ISF Deal Series is tailored specifically for the independent sponsor model, with structured one-on-one meetings, peer-led networking sessions, and timely discussions on market trends. Entry is limited to pre-screened participants, including capital providers and deal professionals focused on private equity strategies. 

About John J. Koeppel

John J. Koeppel is a partner and the team leader of the private equity and independent sponsor practice teams at Lippes Mathias LLP. He is a corporate attorney with more than 25 years of experience structuring, negotiating, and closing more than 250 transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, fund formations, co-investments, financings, and cross-border private equity deals. 

Koeppel advises clients on Qualified Opportunity Zone and Qualified Small Business Stock investments, and serves as legal counsel to funds, independent sponsors, middle market companies, institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. His work spans a range of strategies, including buy-out, growth equity, venture capital, fund-of-funds, secondaries, intellectual property, energy, real estate, and private credit. He frequently represents non-U.S. clients on U.S.-based acquisitions and private investment transactions. 

On the mergers and acquisitions side, Koeppel has led transactions ranging from $5 million to more than $250 million across industries such as manufacturing, technology, consumer goods, business services, food and beverage, cleantech, distribution, and health care. 

He is a frequent speaker at private equity, independent sponsor, and M&A-focused events, where he shares legal and market insights with industry professionals. Before joining Lippes Mathias, Koeppel was a partner in the private equity and investment funds group at an Am Law 100 firm. 

About Lippes Mathias LLP

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with 220-plus attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester, Syracuse, and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, independent sponsors, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals. 

Ranked No. 204 on The National Law Journal’s NLJ 500 list of the largest law firms in the United States by attorney headcount, Lippes Mathias is proud to be recognized year after year by The Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News – Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. For more information, visit www.lippes.com.