Alexander M. Lee

Alexander Lee is the youngest practitioner to be recognized by Chambers Global and the Legal 500 International as one of the Nation's top 20 leading experts in International Tax (and one of the only two under the age of 50). He is described by clients as "very detailed in his descriptions and his explanations, very thorough, he anticipates the types of issues we need to be aware of." In addition, Alexander is one of the youngest practitioners to be recognized as an expert in domestic corporate taxation by Chambers USA and Legal 500 USA (one of the few practitioners in the country that is ranked in both international taxation and domestic corporate taxation by these publications).

With a focus on domestic and international transactional tax matters, Alexander concentrates his practice on public and private mergers and acquisitions, lending and finance and capital markets, with an emphasis on cross-border transactions and corporate transactions involving Asian clients. Alexander has experience dealing with large multinational corporations and emerging technology companies in a broad range of corporate and tax issues.

Alexander frequently speaks on domestic and international corporate and tax matters for numerous academic and professional organizations, including the American Management Association, the New York University Tax Institute and the University of Southern California Tax Institute. Alexander is an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School where he teaches international taxation and advanced corporate taxation.

Representative Experience

• Samsung Electronics in its $8 billion acquisition of Harmon Kardon, the Korean company’s largest transaction to date and the biggest cross-border acquisition ever by a South Korean company*

• Shuanghui International Holdings, China's largest meat manufacturer, in its $7.1 billion acquisition of Smithfield Foods; at the time, the largest acquisition by a Chinese company of a US public company*

• Dubai World in its $7.1 billion investment in MGM Mirage pursuant to a public tender offer and joint venture to build the CityCenter (including the Aria, Vdara and Mandarin Oriental) in Las Vegas*

• Marvel Entertainment in its $4 billion sale to The Walt Disney Company in a tax-free reorganization*

• Ardea Biosciences in its $1.26 billion sale to AstraZeneca*

• JP Morgan, Citi, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank as the underwriters on the $1.68 billion IPO of Haitong Securities, the second largest securities firm in China*

• BBMG, a state-owned enterprise controlled by the Beijing Municipal Government, on its HK$6.8 billion global offering, comprising a Hong Kong public offer and an international offering (UBS, Macquarie and JP Morgan were underwriters)*

* Matter handled prior to joining Cooley

Recognition

• LACBA: Taxation Section – Dana Latham Memorial Award (2021)

• The Best Lawyers in America: Tax Law (2018-2019)

• Chambers USA: Tax (2011 – 2020)

• Chambers Global: Tax (2011 – 2020)

• Legal 500 US: US Taxes – Non-Contentious (2007 – 2020)

• Legal 500 International: (2007 – 2019)

• Super Lawyers, Los Angeles Magazine: (2006 – 2020)