George Sampas

George Sampas is a partner in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP’s New York office and serves as co-chair of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Practice and Head of Cross-Border M&A. He advises clients on cross-border transactions, unsolicited acquisitions, and private equity deals, with a focus on the aviation, aerospace, defense, energy, and minerals sectors. He is known for guiding leading global corporations and investors through some of the largest and most complex transactions worldwide.

George earned his Bachelor of Arts from Brown University in 1985 and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1991. He is admitted to practice in New York. Before joining Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, he was a partner at a major international law firm, where he built a reputation as a trusted advisor in transformative, high-stakes M&A matters.

Throughout his career, George has provided strategic counsel to leading global companies, including Alcan, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Aventis, BCE, Enbridge, Inco, KPMG, and Vodafone Group. He has played key roles in landmark M&A transactions such as Vodafone’s acquisition of Mannesmann, InBev’s unsolicited takeover of Anheuser-Busch, and Alcan’s sale to Rio Tinto. More recently, he has advised on high-profile, multibillion-dollar deals, including Enbridge’s major acquisitions, DS Smith’s pending $9.9 billion combination with International Paper, and Alumina Limited’s sale to Alcoa.

Regularly recognized by publications like The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal, George Sampas is known for his strategic insight and practical approach. His track record of success makes him a go-to advisor for clients navigating complex, cross-border M&A. George continues to be a trusted partner to top corporations and private equity firms executing industry-shaping deals.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
• Member, New York State Bar Association

Licensed State

• New York

Education

• University of Chicago
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Brown University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges