Lippes Mathias partners John J. Koeppel and Andrea H. Vossler spoke at the 2026 Buffalo Private Equity Summit, Upstate New York's premier gathering for private equity professionals, business owners and transaction advisors, held in Buffalo from September 22 to 23.

Koeppel, team leader of the firm's private equity and independent sponsor practice teams and a member of the firm's executive committee, moderated the panel "Growth, Transition & Liquidity: Real CEO Experiences." The discussion brought together business owners and operators who have taken different paths — from building and selling a company to acquiring and scaling a business to partnering with outside investors — to share practical perspectives for CEOs considering growth, capital partnerships, acquisitions, liquidity or ownership transitions.

Vossler, co-leader of the firm's startups and venture capital and family business practice teams, participated in the panel "Owning the Narrative: How Alternative Investment Managers Build and Control Their Public Profile," sponsored by ASC Advisors. The panel examined how private equity and alternative investment firms shape and manage their reputations with limited partners, portfolio company management teams, recruits, regulators and business partners, with attention to communications strategy, legal and compliance considerations, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in how information about firms is discovered and interpreted.

The two-day annual summit brings together leaders across the investment ecosystem to explore growth capital, liquidity strategies and regional market opportunities.

About John J. Koeppel

John J. Koeppel is a partner, team leader of the firm's private equity and independent sponsor practice teams, and a member of the firm's executive committee at Lippes Mathias LLP. He has structured, negotiated and closed more than 250 transactions over more than 25 years, typically involving mergers and acquisitions, fund and SPV formations, and private equity and independent sponsor transactions. Koeppel also works with clients to review and structure their Qualified Opportunity Zone and Qualified Small Business Stock investments.

Koeppel acts as counsel to funds, independent sponsors, holding companies, middle market companies, institutional investors, family offices and high net worth investors focused on buy-out, growth, venture, real estate, intellectual property, energy, debt, fund-of-funds, co-investments, secondaries and other strategies. He also acts as U.S. counsel to non-U.S. clients on their U.S. acquisition and private investment transactions and serves as a director for several private equity-backed companies.

Koeppel has advised on deals ranging from $5 million to more than $250 million across industries including manufacturing, technology, consumer goods, food, distribution, business services, cleantech, and medical and health care. He has spoken at events and podcasts including the iGlobal Independent Sponsor Summit, U.S. Emerging Manager Institute, Association for Corporate Growth, Expert Webcast, SBIA: Independent Sponsor Forum, and Family Office Enterprise. Prior to joining Lippes Mathias, Koeppel was a partner in the private equity and investment funds group of an AmLaw 100 firm.

About Andrea H. Vossler

Andrea H. Vossler is a partner on the corporate and securities practice team at Lippes Mathias LLP, where she co-leads the firm's startups and venture capital and family business practice teams. Vossler has transactional experience working with founders, startups, companies and investors across a variety of stages, sectors and geographies, advising on general corporate matters, debt and equity financings, and mergers and acquisitions. Her work with later-stage and family-owned businesses focuses on succession planning informed by positive psychology. She began her career at Mayer Brown LLP, where she worked on large-scale M&A transactions, private-equity financings and IPOs.

In addition to her legal practice, Vossler is a managing director and co-founder of Varia Ventures (www.varia.com), a platform for professionals and their organizations interested in venture investing. She serves as an entrepreneur in residence at Columbia Technology Ventures and has mentored with Founders' Institute, Endeavor and the University at Buffalo School of Management. Vossler is past chair of the WNY Women's Foundation and a past board member of Upstate Capital.

Vossler received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. from the University at Buffalo. A Fulbright Scholar (France), she also trained at Harvard Law School's Negotiation Program.

About Lippes Mathias LLP

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm ranked among the top 200 law firms in the U.S. by size, with nearly 230 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.