George Karafotias

George focuses on U.S. and cross-border M&A transactions, advising clients on public company transactions (negotiated and unsolicited/hostile), spin-offs, going private transactions, consortium bids, private M&A transactions, joint ventures and strategic investments, as well as on SEC, corporate governance and general corporate matters.

He regularly works closely with boards, special committees and senior management on their most complex and strategically significant transactions.

He has experience across a wide range of industry sectors, including mining and metals, chemicals, industrials, infrastructure, healthcare, food and agriculture, shipping and transportation, sport and financial services.

Expertise

Corporate and M&A M&A, JVs and corporate reorganizations Private client Corporate governance Special situations Public company advisory Asset management M&A

Industries

Mining and metals Industrials and manufacturing Healthcare services Infrastructure and transport Financial institutions

Experience

Representative matters

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. in connection with its acquisition by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. in a going-private transaction for USD454 million.

Itaú Unibanco Holding S.A. and its wholly-owned subsidiary ITB Holding Brasil Participações Ltda. in connection with their tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding common shares (including common shares represented by ADSs) of Banco Itaú Chile that they do not already own, for consideration of approximately USD789 million.

Edificio Del Noroeste, S.A. de C.V. in its USD73.3 million cash tender offer for Industrias Bachoco, S.A.B. de C.V.

SWOCTEM GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prof. Dr. E.h. Friedhelm Loh, in connection with its voluntary public takeover offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Klöckner & Co. SE.

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

Founding Member, Advisory Board for the Masters in Law and Finance Program (a joint program of the Law Faculty and Saïd Business School) at University of Oxford, 2009–2017

Awards

Private Equity Deal of the Year, IFLR Americas, 2022
Private Equity Deal of the Year, Latin Lawyer, 2022
Deal of the Year, S&P Platts Global Metals Awards, 2020
Deal of the Year, Lloyd’s List Global Awards, 2018
M&A Deal of the Year, IFLR Europe, 2019
South American Deal of the Year, M&A Atlas Awards, 2013
M&A Deal of the Year, IFLR Europe, 2012
M&A Deal of the Year, IFLR Europe, 2008

Insights

Shearman & Sterling Advises Taro Pharmaceutical as U.S. Legal Counsel in Merger with Sun Pharma

News

19 Jan 2024

Shearman & Sterling Makes Giant Leap in Mergers & Acquisitions Tables for 2023

News

8 Jan 2024

See all Insights

Qualifications

Admissions

New York, 1999

Academic

Bachelor of Commerce, University of Adelaide, 1994
LL.B. (Hons.), University of Adelaide, 1995
Hons. LL.B. (Thesis), University of Adelaide, 1997
LL.M., University of Pennsylvania, 1998

Disclaimer

A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.