WSGR logoWSGR logo
WSGR logo
  • Experience
  • People
  • Insights
  • About Us
  • Careers

  • Practice Areas
  • Industries

  • Corporate
  • Intellectual Property
  • Litigation
  • Patents and Innovations
  • Regulatory
  • Technology Transactions

  • Capital Markets
  • Corporate Governance
  • Corporate Life Sciences
  • Derivatives
  • Emerging Companies and Venture Capital
  • Employee Benefits and Compensation
  • Energy and Climate Solutions
  • Executive Advisory Program
  • Finance and Structured Finance
  • Fund Formation
  • Greater China
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Private Equity
  • Public Company Representation
  • Real Estate
  • Restructuring
  • Shareholder Engagement and Activism
  • Tax
  • U.S. Expansion
  • Wealthtech

  • Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs)

  • Environmental, Social, and Governance

  • AI and Data Center Infrastructure
  • Energy Regulation and Competition
  • Project Development and M&A
  • Project Finance and Tax Credit Transactions
  • Sustainability and Decarbonization
  • Transportation Electrification

  • U.S. Expansion Library and Resources

  • Post-Grant Review
  • Trademark and Advertising

  • Antitrust Litigation
  • Arbitration
  • Board and Internal Investigations
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Consumer Litigation
  • Corporate Governance Litigation
  • Employment Litigation
  • Executive Branch Updates
  • Government Investigations
  • Internet Strategy and Litigation
  • Patent Litigation
  • Securities Litigation
  • State Attorneys General
  • Supreme Court and Appellate Practice
  • Trade Secret Litigation
  • Trademark and Copyright Litigation
  • Trial
  • White Collar Crime

  • Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing
  • Antitrust and Competition
  • Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS)
  • Communications
  • Data, Privacy, and Cybersecurity
  • Export Control and Sanctions
  • FCPA and Anti-Corruption
  • FDA Regulatory, Healthcare, and Consumer Products
  • Federal Trade Commission
  • Fintech and Financial Services
  • Government Contracts
  • National Security and Trade
  • Payments
  • State Attorneys General
  • Strategic Risk and Crisis Management
  • Tariffs, Customs, and Import Compliance

  • Antitrust and Intellectual Property
  • Antitrust Civil Enforcement
  • Antitrust Compliance and Business Strategy
  • Antitrust Criminal Enforcement
  • Antitrust Litigation
  • Antitrust Merger Clearance
  • European Competition Law
  • Third-Party Merger and Non-Merger Antitrust Representation

  • Anti-Money Laundering
  • Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI)
  • Team Telecom

  • AI in Healthcare
  • Animal Health
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Aviation
  • Biotech
  • Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
  • Clean Energy
  • Climate and Clean Technologies
  • Communications and Networking
  • Consumer Products and Services
  • Data Storage and Cloud
  • Defense Tech
  • Diagnostics, Life Science Tools, and Deep Tech
  • Digital Health
  • Digital Media and Entertainment
  • Electronic Gaming
  • Fintech and Financial Services
  • FoodTech and AgTech
  • Global Generics
  • Internet
  • Life Sciences
  • Medical Devices
  • Mobile Devices
  • Mobility
  • NewSpace
  • Quantum Computing
  • Semiconductors
  • Software

  • Offices
  • Country Desks
  • Events
  • Community
  • Our Diversity
  • Sustainability
  • Our Values
  • Board of Directors
  • Management Team

  • Austin
  • Boston
  • Boulder
  • Brussels
  • Century City
  • Hong Kong
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • New York
  • Palo Alto
  • Salt Lake City
  • San Diego
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Shanghai
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Wilmington, DE

  • Law Students
  • Judicial Clerks
  • Experienced Attorneys
  • Patent Agents
  • Business Professionals
  • Alternative Legal Careers
  • Contact Recruiting
Seth Cowell
Of Counsel
National Security and Trade
Washington, D.C.
scowell@wsgr.com

D202-791-8015

Download vCard
Open PDF

Seth Cowell is Of Counsel in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he counsels and represents domestic and foreign entities in national security-related areas, including matters before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). He also counsels clients on matters relating to federal government contracting under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and other laws and regulations concerning domestic and international business.

After graduating from law school, Seth was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force (USAF) as a member of the USAF Judge Advocate General’s Corps. His last active duty assignment was at the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, where he served as government contracts counsel to small research and development (Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR) programs and several multibillion-dollar programs.

After separating from active duty, Seth continued to advise on government contracts, fraud, and ethics as an Air Force civilian at Hanscom. He then took a position as the senior civilian legal advisor to a Department of Defense (DoD) organization tasked with supporting the USS Cole and 9/11 trials, as well as counter-threat finance. In 2015, Seth joined the National Security Division (NSD) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) as an operations attorney, where he prepared and presented applications under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

Experience

Seth Cowell is Of Counsel in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he counsels and represents domestic and foreign entities in national security-related areas, including matters before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). He also counsels clients on matters relating to federal government contracting under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and other laws and regulations concerning domestic and international business.

After graduating from law school, Seth was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force (USAF) as a member of the USAF Judge Advocate General’s Corps. His last active duty assignment was at the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, where he served as government contracts counsel to small research and development (Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR) programs and several multibillion-dollar programs.

After separating from active duty, Seth continued to advise on government contracts, fraud, and ethics as an Air Force civilian at Hanscom. He then took a position as the senior civilian legal advisor to a Department of Defense (DoD) organization tasked with supporting the USS Cole and 9/11 trials, as well as counter-threat finance. In 2015, Seth joined the National Security Division (NSD) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) as an operations attorney, where he prepared and presented applications under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

Education
  • J.D., University of Southern California, Gould School of Law
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern CaliforniaMagna Cum Laude
Honors
  • Recipient, Assistant Attorney General Award for Excellence, 2017
  • Recipient, Reginald C. Harmon Award for Outstanding Air Force Reserve Judge Advocate of the Year, 2011
Admissions
  • Bar of the District of Columbia
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Credentials
Education
  • J.D., University of Southern California, Gould School of Law
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern CaliforniaMagna Cum Laude
Honors
  • Recipient, Assistant Attorney General Award for Excellence, 2017
  • Recipient, Reginald C. Harmon Award for Outstanding Air Force Reserve Judge Advocate of the Year, 2011
Admissions
  • Bar of the District of Columbia
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Select Publications

  • Co-author, “DNI Issues First-Ever FASCA Order, Excludes Acronis from Intelligence Community Contracts,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, September 26, 2025

  • Co-author, “Department of Defense Issues Final Rule on Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Program for Its Contracts,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, September 12, 2025

  • Co-author, “The FAR Part 12 Rewrite: Making Commercial Acquisitions More Streamlined,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, August 22, 2025
  • Co-author, “Jupiter in Retrograde: Executive Order Blocks Transaction by Chinese Company,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, July 31, 2025
  • Co-author, “FAR Part 35 Update: Making R&D Contracting More Accessible and Attractive,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, July 29, 2025
  • Co-author, “Streamlining Innovation in Space-Related Acquisitions: OMB Proposes a Broadening of NASA’s Procurement Tools,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, July 21, 2025
  • Co-author, “President Trump Issues ‘America First Investment Policy’,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, March 5, 2025

Select Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter, “Know Your CFIUS and Export Control Risks: You Could be Subject to Mandatory Filing Requirements,” Massachusetts Export Expo, January 14, 2021
Insights

Select Publications

  • Co-author, “DNI Issues First-Ever FASCA Order, Excludes Acronis from Intelligence Community Contracts,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, September 26, 2025

  • Co-author, “Department of Defense Issues Final Rule on Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Program for Its Contracts,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, September 12, 2025

  • Co-author, “The FAR Part 12 Rewrite: Making Commercial Acquisitions More Streamlined,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, August 22, 2025
  • Co-author, “Jupiter in Retrograde: Executive Order Blocks Transaction by Chinese Company,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, July 31, 2025
  • Co-author, “FAR Part 35 Update: Making R&D Contracting More Accessible and Attractive,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, July 29, 2025
  • Co-author, “Streamlining Innovation in Space-Related Acquisitions: OMB Proposes a Broadening of NASA’s Procurement Tools,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, July 21, 2025
  • Co-author, “President Trump Issues ‘America First Investment Policy’,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, March 5, 2025

Select Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter, “Know Your CFIUS and Export Control Risks: You Could be Subject to Mandatory Filing Requirements,” Massachusetts Export Expo, January 14, 2021
Focus Areas
  • Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
  • Defense Tech
  • FCPA and Anti-Corruption
  • Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI)
  • Government Contracts
  • Government Investigations
  • National Security and Trade
  • NewSpace
  • Regulatory
Recent Insights
Client Highlights
Wilson Sonsini Advises Kiavi on $717 Million Acquisition by Figure
On June 10, 2026, Figure Technology Solutions (Figure), the blockchain-native capital marketplace for the origination, funding, sale, and trading of tokenized assets, announced a definitive agreement to acquire Kiavi, an AI-powered lending platform for residential real estate investors. The transaction includes the purchase of Kiavi’s balance sheet assets by a joint venture between Figure and Sixth Street, a leading global investment firm, who is buying loans off Kiavi’s balance sheet. The total transaction purchase price is $717 million. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is advising Kiavi on the transaction.
Learn More
Client Highlights
Wilson Sonsini Advises SewerAI on Strategic Investment
On June 2, 2026, SewerAI, a leading AI platform for sewer and underground infrastructure intelligence, announced a major strategic investment led by JMI Equity, a leading growth equity software investor based in the greater Washington, D.C., area and San Diego, with continued participation from Innovius Capital, Epic Ventures, and Bentley Systems. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised SewerAI on the transaction.
Learn More
View All
Recent Events
Speaking Engagements
2026 ABA Business Law Spring Meeting
Join Wilson Sonsini partners Michelle Yost Hale and Matthew McDonald, and Of Counsel Seth Cowell, at the 2026 Business Law Spring Meeting, April 16–18 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Learn More
WSGR Events
Navigating National Security Risks in Life Sciences
As geopolitical concerns create hurdles for cross-border collaboration in biotechnology and life sciences, maintaining visibility into evolving national security and trade requirements is critical for effective global partnering. Wilson Sonsini’s National Security and Trade team invites you to join a webinar exploring recent national security and trade law developments affecting life sciences companies, including how companies are navigating the resulting challenges.
Learn More
View All
  • people
  • insights
  • about us
  • careers
  • Binder
  • Alumni
  • Mailing List Signup
  • Client FTP Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility
WSGR logo
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Instagram
Youtube
Copyright © 2026 Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. All Rights Reserved.