Overview
Alexei J. Cowett is a leading mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate finance dealmaker, with a focus on emerging growth companies in the consumer and tech sectors and production companies, content creators, and high-profile talent in the media, entertainment and sports industries. He also advises recognized brands in other industries, including the food and beverage and health and wellness sectors.
Alexei’s representations include complex corporate transactions, such as domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures and partnerships, and venture and private equity financings. In the media, entertainment and sports space, he advises high-profile talent in endorsement and equity deals tailored to their unique priorities. Alexei also represents clients in general corporate and securities matters and advises on corporate governance issues. For several clients, he serves as outside general counsel and a strategic advisor.
Known for his relentless work in pursuing the interests of his clients, Alexei’s approach to financings and other transactions is as strategic as it is innovative. As such, he often develops and drives the terms of deals in which he is involved.
Alexei’s experience includes advising on more than $60 billion in closed transactions for public, private equity- and venture-backed companies and investment funds. He also served as a senior executive with two prominent growth companies, one of which raised more than $60 million, the other upwards of $240 million.
Drawing on his experience representing companies that are first to market with disruptive products, services and technologies, Alexei tailors his advice to help clients achieve competitive advantages and navigate the many inherent regulatory risks that arise in the pursuit of new technologies and other products, services and solutions. He is well versed in traditional and emerging industries alike, including information technology; e-commerce; biotech; pharma and healthcare; food, beverage, and other consumer products; entertainment, media, and telecom; energy (including clean tech) and financial services.
Previously, Alexei served as an economic development commissioner for Arlington County, Virginia, during which time he also served as vice chairman of the commission. In this capacity, he focused on improving the regulatory climate for business and increasing the county’s economic competitiveness.
Results
Media, Entertainment and Sports
- Represented Lionel Messi in connection with the formation of the Más+ by Messi sports beverage business, an international joint venture between Mr. Messi and Mark Anthony Presents
- Represented James Wan and Atomic Monster in their merger with Blumhouse*
- Represented Aura with Robert Downey Jr.’s endorsement and investment*
- Actor Ryan Reynolds and his creative marketing agency, Maximum Effort Marketing, in its sale to performance television platform MNTN*
- Represented Upright Citizens Brigade and its owners (including Amy Poehler) in UCB’s sale to an investment group, which was backed by Elysian Park Ventures*
- Represented Nielsen BuzzMetrics in various matters, including its acquisition of Intelliseek*
- Represented Halle Berry in various transactional matters*
- Represented A-list talent in the formation and financing of a consumer food business*
- Represented A-list talent in a joint venture in the consumer telcom sector*
- Represented a leading independent film studio in the sale of its film library*
- Represented Panasonic in various transactions, including the sale of the XUMO advertising-supported streaming service to Comcast*
Other Representative Transactions
- Represented Apostrophe, a teledermatology platform, in connection with its sale to Hims & Hers Health, Inc.*
- Represented Broadwing in its $1.4 billion merger with Level 3 Communications*
- Represented Citigroup in its $12.5 billion acquisition of Grupo Financiero Banamex-Accival (Banacci), Mexico’s largest financial services company*
- Represented ClassPass, a premier fitness membership, in each of its equity financings, including its $285 million Series E financing; its acquisitions of ClickyPass, fitmob, FitnessCollection, GuavaPass, and MuvPass; and its merger with Mindbody and the companion $500 million equity financing for the combined company*
- Represented Drummond Company in the sale of its Shoal Creek mining business to Peabody Energy*
- Represented Emerson Electric in the formation of its Louisville Ladder Group cross-border joint venture with Grupo IMSA*
- Represented Endesa (Spain) in its $1.5 billion acquisition of Enersis and its $2.1 billion acquisition of Endesa-Chile, two of Latin America’s largest power companies*
- Represented Glenmark Pharmaceuticals in its unique royalty agreement with Paul Capital Partners to finance the development of dermatological products for the US market*
- Represented Hain Celestial in its acquisition of ParmCrisps and Thinsters*
- Represented The Hershey Company in various M&A transactions and investments*
- Represented ImClone in its agreement with a leading pharmaceutical company for the development and commercialization of Erbitux® (its leading anti-cancer product), as well as with respect to the company’s related equity investment*
- Represented Kraft Foods in various dispositions*
- Represented Limited Brands in various matters, including the sale of Lane Bryant*
- Represented Polymedica in the sale of its women’s healthcare business*
- Represented Repsol in its $15 billion acquisition of YPF, Latin America’s largest petroleum company*
- Represented SineWave Ventures in the formation of its venture funds and in all of its investments*
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott.
Credentials
Education
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, JD, cum laude, 1992
Harvard University, AB, magna cum laude, 1989
Admissions
District of Columbia
New York
Virginia
Languages
English
French (Proficient)
