Megan Rockwell
Overview
Megan Rockwell guides clients through opportunities to start, grow, and sell their businesses with a specific focus on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising transactions, and general corporate matters. She represents founders, issuers, and investors across a range of industries, including hospitality, technology, financial services, and consumer products, providing practical and strategic counsel throughout all stages of a company’s life cycle.
Megan has developed significant experience representing hospitality clients – including restaurant groups, celebrity chefs, founders, and investors – in a wide variety of complex transactions. Her experience includes negotiating key-money arrangements, structuring capital raises for new locations or concepts, and establishing equity incentive programs for key personnel. She also facilitates concept expansion through management agreements with property owners.
Megan frequently advises on internal reorganizations and roll-ups designed to prepare hospitality clients for third-party investment or acquisition. She counsels clients on strategic exits, including acquisitions by private equity funds.
Clients rely on Megan for her clear guidance, industry insight, and ability to navigate the nuanced legal and business considerations inherent in corporate transactions.
Credentials
Education
- Fordham University School of Law, 2010 (J.D.)
- Washington University in St. Louis, 2007 (B.A.)
- Represented multi-unit fast-casual concept in recapitalization and initial private equity investment, as well as subsequent continuation vehicle transaction.
- Represented multi-unit, multi-concept restaurant group in recapitalization and initial private equity investment.
- Represented Brooklyn-based restaurant group in recapitalization and acquisition.
- Represented New York-based restaurant group in licensing brand to three international hotels.
- Represented private equity group in acquisition of safety product business.
- Represented purchaser in acquisition of property management firm.
- Represented celebrity consumer products brand in acquisition by public strategic buyer.
- Represented private marketing agency in acquisition by private equity group.
- Represented retiring principal in sale of asset management business.
- Represented private funds in numerous offerings and secondary market purchases of a pre-IPO “unicorn” technology company equity.
- Les Dames d’Escoffier New York, 2025-present
- Queens Community Board 3, Executive Committee, 2019-2023, Member-at-Large, 2021-2023
- Queens Solid Waste Advisory Board, 2021-2023
- New York City Bar Association, Hospitality Law Committee, 2016-present, Secretary, 2016-2017; Business Law Subcommittee, 2017-2021
- “Opening a Restaurant? You Need a Business Pre-Nup,” Institute of Culinary Education, December 2025, February 2025
- “Discussion with Attorney Megan Rockwell,” Brand Talk Podcast with Mac Brand, April 2025
- “Alternatives to Traditional Capital Raises for Restauranteurs,” New York City Bar Association, Hospitality Law Committee, July 2018