George J. Spathis
Partner
Financial Services & Restructuring, Litigation
George is a seasoned trial lawyer with more than 30 years of experience representing clients in a broad array of commercial disputes throughout the country, and an extraordinary track record of success and efficiency. He concentrates his practice around issues involving corporate/partnership ownership and governance, contract disputes, trade regulation and unfair competition, and disputes in the supply/distribution chain.
George has extensive experience with complex and nuanced bankruptcy and financial services litigation, having represented bankruptcy trustees, secured creditors, creditors’ committees, assignees, and receivers in a myriad of industries. He has prosecuted and defended large fraudulent conveyance actions in federal courts throughout the country and has spoken and written on numerous occasions on the topics of fraudulent conveyance, insolvency, and dealing with businesses in distress. George has presented several times for the National Business Institute and has been published in The Practical Lawyer and Journal of the American Bankruptcy Institute.
He also serves as outside general counsel to mid-sized companies, closely-held entities and entrepreneurs, counseling them on litigation prevention strategies, representing them in commercial disputes, and advising them on diverse transactional matters. George works closely with his clients to protect their business assets, improve their business operations, manage their business risks and solve their business problems.
Additional Information
Education & Admissions
Education
- Chicago Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.A., Political Science
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- US District Court for the Central District of Illinois
Memberships
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- American Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
Awards
- Order of the Coif, Chicago-Kent Chapter
- Leading Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Network
- Leading Commercial Litigation Lawyer by the Chicago Lawyer, 2012
Q&A
What is one of your favorite charitable causes?
My family likes to donate time and resources to cancer charities that we have unfortunately connected with through loss. Cycle for Survival and the LUNGevity Foundation are both doing amazing things in the name of cancer research.What’s the kindest thing a stranger has done for you?
I was waiting at a rental car counter in Atlanta, trying to get home shortly after 9/11. I struck up a conversation with the guy in front of me, relaying to him how much I missed my family and wanted to go home to see my wife and kids. He got to the front of the counter and the worker told him, “Congrats. You just got the last car.” And he responded, gesturing to me, “Well if it’s the last car, give it to him.”What is something someone would be surprised to know about you?
I completed the 52K North American Birkebeiner, which is a cross country ski marathon.
“I liked the fact that he knew my case almost verbatim, he was a great listener, he got back to me almost immediately on each matter and when things got ugly he always made sure I was making the right decision. I’m pretty headstrong after going through the system the past 3 years and George was a pleasure to work with. Truly a professional and someone I respect.”
