Lippes Mathias LLP partner John J. Koeppel, leader of the firm’s private equity and independent sponsor practice teams, will participate in a panel discussion at the Upstate Capital Association of New York’s 6th Annual Buffalo Private Equity Summit. The event brings together private equity investors, dealmakers, and business leaders to explore key trends shaping the lower middle market. 

Koeppel, who has more than 25 years of experience advising funds, independent sponsors, and institutional investors, will join A. David Kocen of Bluehenge Capital Partners, who will moderate the session, and Stephanie McAlaine, chief membership officer and executive director of the Small Business Investor Alliance. The panel, “Is the Independent Sponsor Model Going Mainstream?” will examine how independent sponsors have evolved from niche players to a driving force in private equity. 

The discussion will highlight the growth milestones and defining shifts of the past decade, how the sponsor model is becoming institutionalized, changes in capital provider expectations, and what the next decade may hold for this maturing sector. 

Register for the Buffalo Private Equity Summit HERE. 

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 and has led over 250 transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, fund formations, co-investments, financings, and cross-border private equity deals. 

He advises funds, independent sponsors, middle market companies, institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals on a wide range of strategies, such as buy-out, growth equity, venture capital, fund-of-funds, secondaries, intellectual property, energy, real estate, and private credit. His experience also includes advising clients on Qualified Opportunity Zone and Qualified Small Business Stock investments and representing non-U.S. investors in U.S.-based acquisitions and private investments. 

On the M&A side, Koeppel has handled transactions from $5 million to more than $250 million across industries, including manufacturing, technology, consumer goods, business services, food and beverage, cleantech, distribution, and health care. A frequent speaker at private equity, independent sponsor, and M&A conferences, he regularly shares insights on market trends and legal developments. 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.