Speakers

Saving the Deal: The Art of Closing Through 11th Hour Complexities 

Deals rarely fall apart for a single reason - late-stage diligence findings, valuation gaps, and human dynamics are often inextricably linked. This panel will examine how deal teams identify, triage, and resolve last-minute risks, leveraging creative structuring and collaboration to get transactions across the finish line.

Panel 

Image

Brett Cunningham, Head of Business Development - Private Equity, Eide Bailly (Moderator)

Brett Cunningham is the Head of Business Development for the Private Equity Industry Group at Eide Bailly, where he works closely with private equity firms, portfolio companies, and transaction stakeholders to connect clients with the firm's broad advisory, tax, and assurance capabilities. In this role, Brett focuses on building strategic relationships within the private equity ecosystem and supporting clients throughout the investment lifecycle. In addition to his work at Eide Bailly, Brett currently serves as President of ACG Denver.

Image

Daniel Gallagher, Partner, Lion Equity

Daniel joined Lion Equity as an Analyst in 2012. His primary responsibilities include financial analysis, due diligence, and monitoring portfolio company performance.

Prior to joining Lion Equity, Daniel was a Senior Consultant on the Communications, Media and Entertainment team at FTI Consulting. At FTI, Daniel was part of engagement teams providing restructuring support, interim management, investment banking services, M&A advisory, performance improvement and other services.

Image

Ryan Heckman, CEO, Rallyday Partners

Ryan has been an investor, CEO and entrepreneur for nearly 26 years with a calling to build great organizations that elevate industries and the lives they touch.

Ryan was previously the founder and CEO of EVP Eyecare, a regional provider of surgical eye care with operations in Arizona, Colorado and Texas. Prior to forming and successfully selling EVP Eyecare, Ryan co-founded Excellere Partners, a private equity fund focused primarily in the healthcare industry with approximately $2.3 billion of capital under management.

Image

Sarah Kaehler, Partner, BCLP Law Firm

Sarah Kaehler is a partner in BCLP’s corporate transactions practice and is based in New York.  Sarah has extensive experience in advising private equity sponsors, private companies, and executives in structuring, negotiating, and executing acquisitions, divestitures, investments, joint ventures, and carve-out transactions.  Sarah also frequently advises on GP-led continuation fund transactions.  Alongside her practice, Sarah actively lectures on various topics relating to private equity and M&A, including her recent feature article in the New York Law Journal entitled “The Staying Power of Continuation Fund Transaction and ‘Traditional’ M&A Considerations.”  Beyond her practice, she is a member of the New York City Bar’s Corporation Law Committee and Law360’s 2026 Mergers & Acquisitions Editorial Advisory Board, and sits on the board of the Howard Law Class of 2010 Endowment Fund.