Robert M. McDowell

Partner
Full contact info

I have worked throughout my career to advance innovation and investment in the technology, media and telecom industries.

Experience

US Supreme Court Upholds FCC’s Modernized Television Station Ownership Rules, Affirming Cooley Amicus Briefs

April 25, 2022

The US Supreme Court ruled on April 1, 2021 that the Federal Communications Commission was within its authority to repeal or modify three long-standing media ownership controls. The decision aligned with arguments Cooley made in amicus briefs submitted on behalf of Gray Television that, after years of challenges, the FCC’s modernized rules finally should be allowed to take effect because the agency issued them in full compliance with its obligations under Section 202(h) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

In a unanimous opinion written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court found no issues with the agency’s 2017 decision, which eliminated bans on broadcast-newspaper and television-radio cross-ownership, nixed restrictions on cross-station advertising agreements and dropped a diversity-of-viewpoints rule for local markets. Lawyers David Mills, Robert McDowell and Barrett Anderson led the Cooley effort.

Read more

Related contacts

David E. Mills
Partner, Washington DC
Robert M. McDowell
Partner, Washington DC
Barrett J. Anderson
Associate, San Diego
John Feore
Senior Counsel, Washington DC
Jason Rademacher
Special Counsel, Washington DC

Cooley Files Amicus Brief in Second Circuit in Interstate Communications Services Regulation Case

March 11, 2022

New York – March 10, 2022 – Cooley filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA), a trade association for competitive wireless providers and stakeholders across the country, in New York State Telecommunications Association, Inc. et al. v. James. The brief urges the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to uphold a lower court’s permanent injunction barring enforcement of New York’s Affordable Broadband Act (ABA), which regulates the rates, terms and conditions of internet service providers’ broadband internet access service offerings to the public. Partners David E. Mills and Robert McDowell are leading the Cooley team representing the CCA.

Read more

Related contacts

David E. Mills
Partner, Washington DC
Robert M. McDowell
Partner, Washington DC
J.G. Harrington
Special Counsel, Washington DC

Zoom to Acquire Five9 for $14.7 Billion

July 23, 2021

Cooley advised Zoom Video Communications on its agreement to acquire Five9, a leading provider of the intelligent cloud contact center, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $14.7 billion. Jamie Leigh, Ben Beerle, Anne Lieberman and Jon Avina led the Cooley team advising Zoom on the transaction.

Related contacts

Jamie Leigh
Partner, San Francisco
Ben Beerle
Partner, San Francisco
Anne Lieberman
Partner, Los Angeles Santa Monica
Jon Avina
Partner, Palo Alto
Sangitha Palaniappa
Associate, Palo Alto
Daniel Han
Associate, New York
Calise Cheng
Partner, Palo Alto
Howard Morse
Partner, Washington DC
Megan Browdie
Partner, Washington DC
Barbara Mirza
Partner, Los Angeles Santa Monica
Travis LeBlanc
Partner, Washington DC
TJ Graham
Partner, Palo Alto
Jonathan Rivinus
Partner, Colorado
Michael Basile
Partner, Washington DC
Joshua Mates
Partner, San Francisco
Jason Savich
Partner, San Francisco
Todd Gluth
Partner, San Diego
Robert M. McDowell
Partner, Washington DC
Patrick Van Eecke
Partner, Brussels
Mischi a Marca
Partner, San Francisco
J.G. Harrington
Special Counsel, Washington DC
Alexander Israel
Partner, Brussels
Stella Sarma
Special Counsel, Brussels
Karen Tsai
Special Counsel, Washington DC
Christine Graham
Special Counsel, London
Kristopher Kleiner
Special Counsel, Colorado
Kevin Rivers
Associate, Palo Alto
Ross Eberly
Partner, Los Angeles Santa Monica
Joshua Elefant
Associate, Palo Alto
Julia Boesch
Associate, San Francisco
Henry Wendel
Special Counsel, Washington DC
Julia R. Brinton
Associate, Washington DC
Mor Agam
Associate, New York
Claire Gibbs
Associate, Washington DC
Nicollette R. Kirby
Associate, Washington DC
Grace Hunter
Associate, Washington DC

ION Media Agrees to Sell to E.W. Scripps for $2.65 Billion

October 21, 2020

Cooley advised ION Media on its agreement to sell to E.W. Scripps for $2.65 billion, combining the business with Scripps' Katz networks and Newsy to create a full-scale national television networks business. Lawyers John Feore and Jason Rademacher led the Cooley team advising ION.

Read more

Related contacts

John Feore
Senior Counsel, Washington DC
Jason Rademacher
Special Counsel, Washington DC
Robert M. McDowell
Partner, Washington DC
Henry Wendel
Special Counsel, Washington DC

T-Mobile Merger with Sprint

April 2, 2020

Cooley served as regulatory and public affairs counsel to T-Mobile US on its merger with Sprint on an all-stock transaction.

Related contacts

Robert M. McDowell
Partner, Washington DC
Henry Wendel
Special Counsel, Washington DC
View more

Rankings & accolades

Best Lawyers in America: Media Law

Chambers USA: Telecom, Broadcast and Satellite

Consumer Electronics Association: Digital Patriot Award

Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association: Chair Award

Legal 500: Telecom and Broadcast

Media Institute: Freedom of Speech Award

Minority, Media and Telecom Council (MMTC): Everett C. Parker Award

National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters: Power of Urban Radio Award

Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal and Economic Policy Studies: Jerry B. DuVall Public Service Award

Sports Fan Coalition: Most Valuable Policymaker

Memberships & affiliations

McLean Project for the Arts, Former Chairman and Board Member

The Hudson Institute, Senior Fellow

The Potomac School, former member, Board of Trustees

Shared Spectrum Company, Board of Directors

Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy, Former Member, Board of Visitors