Reverse Deal Prep: Lessons from Broken Deals and Costly Mistakes
Presented By: Riveron / Steptoe & Johnson
Most deal problems don’t start at closing — they start months earlier. This session takes a reverse-engineering approach to deal preparedness by examining real-world transactions that went wrong. Drawing on experiences from operators, investors, and advisors, panelists unpack common missteps in diligence, structure, communication, and execution — and translate those lessons into practical guidance for building stronger, more resilient deals.
Moderator:
Managing Director
Riveron
Robert Berdanier is a Managing Director in Riveron’s Business Restructuring & Turnaround Services practice. His focus is on middle-market companies, both distressed and healthy, seeking financial and operational improvement through interim leadership and re-organization. Robert is a seasoned restructuring professional, with significant experience in the manufacturing, distribution & hospitality.
Panelists:
Partner
Agility Equity Partners
Mike Blume is a partner at Agility Equity Partners. He is responsible for all aspects of investment management, including sourcing and executing new investments, monitoring existing portfolio company performance, and leading employee training and development.
Before joining Agility, Mike spent three years on the investment team at Incline Equity Partners, where he was responsible for evaluating and executing new investments and managing existing portfolio companies.
Before Incline, Mike spent two years in PNC's Asset Backed Finance group, focusing on the origination, structuring, and execution of securitizations. Mike graduated with a BBA in Finance cum laude from the University of Notre Dame.
CEO
Healthcare Ventures Group LLC
Joe Pohl is the CEO of Healthcare Ventures Group and its affiliates, Physcians Rx Pharmacy and Pharmalytiq. HVG provides complete pharmacy services pursuant to the federal 340B drug program. Prior to joining HVG, Joe served as an Executive in Residence with UPMC Enterprises, and as the General Counsel and then the CEO of PharmBlue Specialty Pharmacy. Joe came to these roles as a veteran attorney who represented clients in the healthcare, financial services and manufacturing industries.
Member, Supply Chain Team Leader
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Randal (Randy) brings nearly 20 years of litigation experience assisting manufacturers and businesses across diverse industries nationwide in navigating complex legal landscapes and disputes in state and federal courts. He advises a wide range of domestic and international clients, particularly in tier 1 and tier 2 automotive and mobility component parts and manufacturing companies in several industry sectors such as Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG)/energy, life sciences, chemicals, robotics, health care, and technology. Randy has also litigated mass tort, products liability, and toxic tort matters in these areas.
Randy’s experience includes serving as first chair litigation counsel in a variety of high stakes, complex matters, managing teams of other counsel both in-firm and out-of-firm domestically and internationally.
In addition to Randy’s sophisticated litigation experience he has developed a proficiency in the laws impacting global supply chains and assists companies to holistically manage the legal aspects of their supply chains from end-to-end. Randy also advises on commercial contracting under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG); Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) matters; cybersecurity; antitrust and securities all within the supply chain environment. He is as likely to assist clients in designing fair and reasonable allocation or force majeure programs as he is to litigate over them in court. Likewise, Randy advises clients on ESG issues throughout the supply chain, including assisting with supply chain ESG audits.