Philip Alberstat is a seasoned investment banker, media entrepreneur, and award-winning producer with a unique career spanning M&A advisory, media law, and content production.
He currently advises companies on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and strategic growth, with a focus on media, technology, and consumer sectors. Philip brings a multifaceted perspective to transactions, drawing from decades of experience across finance, legal, and operational leadership.
Previously, he was a Managing Director at Embarc Advisors, a boutique financial advisory firm, where he led sell-side and growth advisory mandates for founder-led and venture-backed businesses navigating inflection points.
Philip also served as Chief Operating Officer of a venture-backed podcast company, where he oversaw operations, business affairs, and production, while leading the Series A, B, and C fundraising rounds. He executive produced several acclaimed podcast series, including Stephen King’s "Strawberry Spring" (a global #1 upon release), James Ellroy’s "Hollywood Death Trip" and "American Tabloid," and "Where the Bodies Are Buried," which was named one of the best podcasts of 2020 by The Atlantic.
Earlier, he co-founded and served as COO of Contend, a branded content agency that created campaigns for Microsoft, Bud Light, Facebook, Lexus, and Pizza Hut. The company was acquired by Carlyle-owned Mosaic. He also held senior roles at Omelet and served as a strategic advisor to JWT on branded entertainment initiatives.
As a producer, Philip has worked on numerous films and television series. He was part of the independent film team at the William Morris Agency, where he contributed to projects such as "Thank You for Smoking," "Away From Her," and "Frozen River." He won an Emmy Award for "The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie," was shortlisted for an Academy Award for the documentary "Downstream," and received a Critics Choice nomination for "Into the Fire."
Before transitioning into production and finance, Philip was a highly regarded media lawyer. He served as Global Head of Media Law at Baker McKenzie in London, specializing in media finance, content rights, and international entertainment law. Over the course of his legal career, he advised studios, financiers, and production companies on complex cross-border deals.
He is also the author of several books, including "The Insider’s Guide to Film Finance," "Law and the Media," and "The Content Maker’s Handbook."
