Mike Cowie

Mike Cowie has handled strategic projects for some of the world’s largest and most successful companies. His advice builds upon insights gained while directing investigations for the government. Mr. Cowie served in the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition as Assistant Director, where he managed a 25-attorney team responsible for antitrust merger investigations.

Mr. Cowie earlier served as the FTC’s Senior Litigation Counsel responsible for leading the Commission’s antitrust litigation. The FTC awarded Mr. Cowie several honors, including the FTC’s Meritorious Service and Superior Service awards, and selected him to represent the FTC in its Merger Investigation Best Practices Initiative.

Mr. Cowie has been called upon to testify on antitrust matters before the U.S. Congress and in statehouse and has received honors or recognition from the Financial Times, Global Competition Review, Chambers, and The Deal.

EDUCATION :

• Hobart and William Smith Colleges, B.A., Economics, 1986, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Honors in Economics, Omicron Delta Epsilon Economics Honorary Society
• Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1989, cum laude, Editor of The Georgetown Law Journal

ADMISSIONS : District of Columbia

MEMBERSHIPS :

• ABA Antitrust Section, Long Range Planning Committee (2016), Foreign Investment and Antitrust Interface Task Force (2013-2015)
• Vice Chair, Antitrust Programs (2011-2013)
• Vice-Chair, Mergers & Acquisition Committee (2008-2010)
• Editorial Board, Competition Law 360 (2011-2013)
• Chair, Antitrust Committee, ABA’s Administrative Law Section (2004-2005)

EXPERIENCE :

• Let the antitrust team for CVS Health in its $70 billion acquisition of Aetna, the largest announced deal of 2017 and the largest healthcare services deal ever.  The companies obtained approval from DOJ despite loud opposition seeking to block the deal based on vertical foreclosure concerns.
• Led the antitrust team for Medco in its merger with Express Scripts, a US$34 billion deal that closed unconditionally following “an intensive 8 month investigation” by the FTC and over 30 State AGs, two Congressional hearings, opposition by over 80 members of Congress, and an unsuccessful last-minute lawsuit by competitors.
• Acted for GE in a DOJ 2nd request investigation and 3 week trial in federal court over the US$3.3 billion sale of its appliance business to Electrolux. Before the trial ruling, GE terminated the deal, received a US$175 million break fee, and announced the sale of the business to another buyer for US$5.4 billion.
• Guided Whirlpool in obtaining unconditional clearance to acquire Maytag following an investigation DOJ has described as “thorough,” “much discussed,” and “closely watched.”
• Acted for Ritchie Brothers in its acquisition of Iron Planet, a combination that received unconditional clearance following a DOJ 2nd request investigation focusing on leadership in used industrial equipment auctions.
• Led the antitrust team for Buckeye in its US$1.5 billion merger with Georgia-Pacific. The merger received unconditional clearance despite a 2nd request investigation and media attention on the merger agreement’s “target on the back” divestiture commitments.
• Acted for the seller on the Michelin/Uniroyal Goodrich merger that DOJ cleared unconditionally following a 2nd request investigation focusing on potential coordination in tire sales to automotive OEMs.