ACG Tampa Bay EP - Fast-Tracking M&A Success: Strategies for Reducing Deal Times

Kristen is a Senior Vice President on the Deal Origination and Sourcing team at Mangrove Equity Partners. With a tenure that began in 2007, Kristen has played a pivotal role in building out many of the processes, systems, strategies and tools that contribute to our team’s effectiveness. Kristen’s primary focus today at Mangrove is originating investment opportunities and qualifying acquisition candidates.

Before joining Mangrove, Kristen started her career in the financial industry with the private banking group at Brown Brothers Harriman in the Charlotte, NC office. Kristen is a proud alumna of the University of Central Florida where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance.

Outside of her workplace responsibilities, Kristen can likely be found on one of the many soccer fields across the Tampa Bay area cheering on her two boys, Brooks and Cooper.

Dara Shareef is a Managing Partner with Benchmark International, where he helps lead the firm’s sellside Middle Market Team. With extensive experience in deal execution, analysis, and strategic growth, Dara guides clients through complex transactions, ensuring optimal outcomes. His leadership and expertise helps drive Benchmark International’s success, helping businesses owners achieve their goals with personalized, results-driven solutions.

Mr. Koeppel is a Partner and the Team Leader of the firm’s Private Equity and Independent Sponsor Practices. He is a corporate lawyer who has successfully structured, negotiated, and closed over 250 transactions in the past 25+ years, which typically involve mergers and acquisitions, fund formations and investments, and various private equity transactions (including co-investments, venture financings and cross-border deals). He also works with clients on reviewing/ structuring their Qualified Opportunity Zone and Qualified Small Business Stock investments. 

Mr. Koeppel acts as counsel to a number of leading funds, independent sponsors, 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 often acts as US counsel to non-US clients on their US acquisition and private investment transactions. He also serves as a director for several private equity-backed companies. 

On the M&A/ private equity transactions side, Mr. Koeppel has advised on deals from $5 million to $250 million+ in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, technology, consumer goods, food, distribution, business services, cleantech, and medical/ health care.