Owen D. Kurtin
T: +1.212.554.3373
E: okurtin@kurtinlaw.com

PRACTICE CONCENTRATION

Owen D. Kurtin’s practice focuses on corporate, commercial and regulatory representation of both mature and early stage companies, investment funds, investors and lenders in the Biotechnology & Life Sciences, Communications & Media, Information Technologies, Blockchain & Internet, Satellites & Space and Venture Capital & Private Equity sectors.

Owen represents clients on a wide range of M&A and private equity transactions, including buyouts, spin-offs, divestitures, and roll-ups; cross-border joint ventures and strategic alliances; securities offerings, including private placements and SPACs; and financial and strategic investments. He counsels company boards and officers on their fiduciary obligations, ’34 Act reporting obligations and other governance issues, and shareholders and creditors on their rights. He has also implemented “Swiss Principal,” “Master Feeder” and related profitability- and efficiency-maximizing corporate governance structures for multinational enterprises and onshore and offshore investment funds.

Owen also negotiates complex, high value commercial arrangements such as the development, financing, manufacture, sale, licensing, leasing, distribution, and deployment of services, software and equipment for satellite, terrestrial and submarine broadband telecommunications and digital media networks; biotechnology and life sciences products; artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and robotics; blockchain, Fintech, cryptocurrencies, digital assets and non-fungible tokens (NFTs); data privacy and cybersecurity.  Owen is also experienced in civil rights and Constitutional Law issues arising in the Communications, Media, Technology and Arts sectors and in the financing, production and distribution of live, filmed, written and recorded artistic works.

Owen has advised on cross-border transactions throughout Western and Eastern Europe; The Middle East and Persian Gulf; and Central, South, and East Asia. He is fluent in French.

HONORS & RECOGNITIONS

Owen is a frequent speaker in North America and Europe, commentator for financial television and radio, and published author on telecommunications, satellite, and IT sector mergers and acquisitions, industry trends, and regulatory matters. He is cited in the Practical Law Company Communications & IT Handbook 2006/2007 (the only U.S. lawyer with “highly recommended” ratings for both telecommunications and IT/e-commerce); The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, 2002-2021; An International Who’s Who of Telecoms Lawyers, 2000-2021; and Global Communications, 2002-2005. He is a Sustaining Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He was, from 2004 to 2013, the monthly finance columnist for Via Satellite, a leading satellite industry trade magazine.

EDUCATION

McGill University Faculty of Law, Montréal, Québec, Canada: LL.B., 1984
McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada: B.A., 1981
The Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, New York, USA: Regents Diploma, 1977

ADMISSIONS

New York State
U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Second and Third Circuits
U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Sustaining Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
American Bar Association (Sections on Business Law and International Law)
International Bar Association (Past Vice Chair, Committee Cm (Communications Law, 2004 – 2006)
New York City Bar Association (Past Chair, Committee on Telecommunications Law, 2000 – 2003; Past member, Task Force on International Legal Services, 1996 – 2000)
Member, The Bronx High School of Science Alumni Association; Trustee, “The Bernard Kurtin Award for Excellence in English Language Studies
Past Co-Chair, New York Chapter, the Federal Communications Bar Association

LANGUAGE

French (fluent)

Owen D. Kurtin

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