Deal Prep in Practice: What It Takes to Be Transaction-Ready
Presented By: BakerHostetler / Cohen & Co
Whether you’re on the buy-side or sell-side, successful deals don’t start at the negotiation table—they start with preparation. This session explores the practical steps companies, investors, and advisors are taking to get transaction-ready in any economic environment. From refining your story and aligning internal stakeholders to building the right team and addressing diligence red flags in advance, panelists will share how they’ve positioned deals for success before the process even begins. It’s about readiness, resilience, and making sure your business—or your client’s—is ready when opportunity knocks.
Moderator:
Partner & Leader of Cleveland Office Business Group
BakerHostetler
Matt Graban focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions and corporate transactions. He has extensive experience advising private and public companies and private equity firms, foreign and domestic, on all forms of transactions. In addition, Matt routinely counsels clients in connection with commercial and operational issues, agreements and corporate governance matters, acting as principal outside general counsel for a number of privately held businesses.
Matt also routinely represents companies and senior management teams in connection with employment agreements, equity-based compensation plans and severance arrangements, and advises high-net-worth individuals on complex issues under federal securities laws in connection with estate planning using publicly traded securities.
Matt is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Corporate Law. He is a member of the firm's Retirement Plan Investment Committee and the Cleveland office's Hiring Committee. Matt is also the Cleveland Business Leader.
Partner
Cohen & Co
Josh started his career at Cohen & Co in 2008 as staff accountant and is currently the Co-Leader of the firm's manufacturing group. In addition to general audit and review services, he is experienced in working with complex entity structures, business combinations, consolidations, private equity owned companies, employee stock ownership plans and stock-based compensation plans.
Panelists:
General Counsel
MIM Software Inc., A GE HealthCare Company
Alexandra Jorgensen is the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of MIM Software Inc., a GE HealthCare Company, where she leads the legal function and advises on matters at the intersection of healthcare and technology. In her role, she supports MIM Software’s global mission to deliver practical and innovative imaging solutions across a range of clinical specialties, including Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Urology, Neuroimaging, and Cardiac Imaging. The company’s platforms span desktop, mobile, and cloud-based technologies, serving healthcare providers, research institutions, and pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
Before joining MIM Software, Alexandra served as Associate General Counsel at Akron General – Cleveland Clinic, where she navigated the complex legal landscape of a large healthcare system. Her interest in healthcare law was sparked early in her career at Brouse McDowell, LPA, where she advised clients on a broad spectrum of healthcare and corporate legal issues.
Alexandra’s experience reflects a strong commitment to advancing healthcare through legal insight, strategic guidance, and a deep understanding of the evolving technological landscape in medicine.
Chief Financial Officer
Foundation Wellness
RJ Valentine is an accomplished operator of private equity and publicly traded companies, and entrepreneur. He currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Foundation Wellness, a global manufacturer of health and wellness products. In late 2024 Foundation Wellness was sold in a successful sponsor to sponsor transaction from Gridiron Capital to Bansk Capital.
RJ has led mid-market companies for over 25 years and has completed approximately 30 buy-side/sell-side transactions around the globe for a total deal value of $1.5B. Using his foundational background as a CPA he has prepared and executed multiple exits in private equity and publicly traded companies. He has also served as a board member of private equity and privately held companies.