Image of Eli Mekonen

Eli Mekonen

Associate

Email

eli.mekonen@aoshearman.com

Phone

+1 (202) 830 5034

Offices

Washington DC

V-CARD

Eli focuses his practice on domestic and international M&A transactions, private equity and general corporate and securities matters.

With a proven track record advising on complex, multi-billion dollar deals across diverse industries, including sports & entertainment, technology and life sciences, he leverages his experience to guide clients beyond legal considerations, offering strategic insights for more informed business decisions.

He represents a broad spectrum of clients, from public companies and private equity firms to sports franchise owners, asset managers and non-profit organizations. He advises clients throughout the entire corporate lifecycle, from initial formation to mergers & acquisitions and beyond.

Prior to joining A&O Shearman, he honed his legal acumen at the Supreme Court of Virginia, a bulge bracket investment bank and leading global law firms in New York and Washington, D.C., equipping him with a well-rounded understanding of the corporate legal landscape.

Experience

Representative matters

  • Represented Caerus Group in the acquisition of ProSys Fill, LLC at a valuation of $17.55 million.
  • Represented Josh Harris and a consortium of investors in the acquisition of the NFL's Washington Commanders at a valuation of $6.05 billion. This is the highest valuation ever paid for a sports franchise. *
  • Represented the Walton-Penner Family in the acquisition of the NFL's Denver Broncos at a valuation of $4.65 billion. This was the highest valuation ever paid for a sports franchise at the time. *
  • Represented IBM in the $19 billion global separation and reorganization of Kyndryl Holdings, Inc., its managed infrastructure services business, prior to the spin-off of Kyndryl into a separate publicly traded company. *
  • Represented LabCorp in the acquisition of Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc., a provider of comprehensive liquid biopsy and tissue-based genomic products and services, at a valuation of $575 million. *
  • Represented Sazerac Company in a partnership with Barstool Sportsbook. *
  • Represented Major League Pickleball in its merger with PPA Tour, backed by an investment of $50 million. *
  • Represented Oracle, Inc. in a sponsorship agreement with Oak View Group, LLC, valued at $20 million. *
  • Represented Washington Spirit Owner Michelle Kang in the creation of the first global multi-club women’s soccer organization. *
  • Represented Alterra Mountain Company in the acquisition of Schweitzer Mountain at a valuation of $87.61 million. *
  • Represented Howard University in entering into a two-year management services agreement with Adventist HealthCare prior to the separation and transfer of Howard University Hospital. *
  • Represented Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A. in the sale of its worldwide Crystals and Detectors business to SK Capital Partners, L.P. at a valuation of $214 million. *
  • Represented UGI Corporation in a joint venture with Archaea Energy Inc. to develop a renewable natural gas project at the Commonwealth Environmental Systems landfill in Hegins, Pennsylvania. *
  • Represented esVolta in the sale of its utility-scale battery storage business to Generate Capital and CarVal Investors at a valuation of $136.03 million. *

*Denotes prior firm experience.

Pro bono

  • Advised the Spookstock Foundation and the Operator Relief Fund on corporate governance matters.
  • Advised the Stephen M. Ross-owned Ross Initiative for Sports Equality, Inc. (RISE) in a proposed partnership with the founding entity of the National Sports Museum. *
  • Drafted the privacy policy for a D.C.-based mental health clinic. *
  • Advised the Children’s Law Center on housing conditions matters. *

Published Work

  • Armas, Brown, Hardy, Kaufman, Mekonen and Zimmerman (2021) “Contract Formation and Enforcement in the United States: Overview”, Thomson Reuters

Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, “Current Legal Topics in Sports”, Sports Lawyers Association, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, November 2023

Awards

  • Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, District of Columbia Courts, 2021 - 2022

Qualifications

Admissions

District of Columbia, 2020

Academic

J.D., University of Virginia, 2020

B.A., History, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2017

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.