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George A.
Stephanakis

Partner, Corporate

gstephanakis@cravath.com
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George A. Stephanakis is Co‑Head of the Capital Markets Practice for EMEA. His practice focuses on capital market transactions and mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Stephanakis’ recent work includes capital market transactions in connection with leveraged buyouts, initial public offerings and secondary equity offerings. He regularly represents issuers and underwriters in high-yield financings, and recently worked on offerings for AngloGold Ashanti, ASDA, AXA, CABB, CGG, CMA CGM, EdF, EG Group, Euronav, France Telecom, Goldstory, Hurtigruten, Lagardere, LeasePlan, Neiman Marcus, PSA Peugeot, RELX, Sappi, Wagamama and Warner Chilcot. Mr. Stephanakis also led the Cravath team that worked on the out‑of‑court debt for equity exchange of Akerys S.A., a French real estate developer, the first such exchange to have been completed in the European high‑yield market.

In mergers and acquisitions and other corporate matters, Mr. Stephanakis has represented Europcar in its acquisition of Vanguard’s European business and the establishment of a strategic alliance between Europcar and Vanguard; the independent directors of KKR Guernsey in the combination of KKR Guernsey with KKR and the subsequent listing of KKR on the NYSE; Exalead, a French software company, in its sale to Dassault Systèmes; GDF SUEZ (now ENGIE) in the sale of a 30% interest in its exploration and production business and a 10% stake in the Atlantic LNG liquefaction plant in Trinidad and Tobago to China Investment Corporation for a total consideration of $4 billion; Saint‑Gobain in the sale of its U.S. glass packaging business to Ardagh Glass; Mediclinic International in its combination with Al Noor Hospitals Group; Delhaize in its merger of equals with Royal Ahold; Luxottica in its combination with Essilor; Zodiac Aerospace in its sale to Safran; Richemont in its acquisition of YOOX Net‑A‑Porter, its PIPE investment in Farfetch, in partnership with Alibaba, and the proposed sale of a stake in YOOX Net‑A‑Porter to Farfetch; AXA in its acquisition of XL Group; Technicolor in the sale of its Patent Licensing business and Research & Innovation activity to InterDigital; PSA Peugeot in its strategic alliance with General Motors and Peugeot in its merger with Fiat Chrysler to form Stellantis; AngloGold Ashanti in its corporate restructuring and change to domicile in the United Kingdom and primary listing location to the NYSE, as well as its acquisition of the remaining shares of Corvus Gold and its acquisition of Centamin; Rothschild & Co and its largest shareholder, Concordia, in the take‑private transaction of Rothschild; and Newcrest in its acquisition by Newmont and its acquisition of the remaining shares of Pretivm.

Mr. Stephanakis has been repeatedly cited as one of the leading practitioners in capital markets by, among others, Chambers UK, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 UK, IFLR1000 and The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom. He is also a recipient of the 2013 International Law Office – Lexology Client Choice Award in the Capital Markets category for the United Kingdom, which recognizes partners for their excellent client care and quality of service. In addition, Mr. Stephanakis has been recognized for his work in mergers and acquisitions by The Legal 500 UK and The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Stephanakis was born in Athens, Greece. He received an LL.B. summa cum laude from the University of Athens School of Law in 1994, where he was Editor‑in‑Chief of the Law Review. He was an Erasmus student at the Université de Bordeaux I in 1990 and received an LL.M. from Cambridge University in 1995 and an LL.M., as a Fulbright Scholar, from Harvard Law School in 1997.

Mr. Stephanakis joined Cravath in 1998 and was elected a partner in 2003. He worked at the Firm’s New York office until June 2006. From July 1, 2006 through the end of the year, Mr. Stephanakis was seconded at the Paris office of Bredin Prat. He joined the Firm’s London office at the beginning of 2007. He is fluent in English, French, Greek and Spanish.

Mr. Stephanakis’ recent work includes capital market transactions in connection with leveraged buyouts, initial public offerings and secondary equity offerings. He regularly represents issuers and underwriters in high-yield financings, and recently worked on offerings for AngloGold Ashanti, ASDA, AXA, CABB, CGG, CMA CGM, EdF, EG Group, Euronav, France Telecom, Goldstory, Hurtigruten, Lagardere, LeasePlan, Neiman Marcus, PSA Peugeot, RELX, Sappi, Wagamama and Warner Chilcot. Mr. Stephanakis also led the Cravath team that worked on the out‑of‑court debt for equity exchange of Akerys S.A., a French real estate developer, the first such exchange to have been completed in the European high‑yield market.

In mergers and acquisitions and other corporate matters, Mr. Stephanakis has represented Europcar in its acquisition of Vanguard’s European business and the establishment of a strategic alliance between Europcar and Vanguard; the independent directors of KKR Guernsey in the combination of KKR Guernsey with KKR and the subsequent listing of KKR on the NYSE; Exalead, a French software company, in its sale to Dassault Systèmes; GDF SUEZ (now ENGIE) in the sale of a 30% interest in its exploration and production business and a 10% stake in the Atlantic LNG liquefaction plant in Trinidad and Tobago to China Investment Corporation for a total consideration of $4 billion; Saint‑Gobain in the sale of its U.S. glass packaging business to Ardagh Glass; Mediclinic International in its combination with Al Noor Hospitals Group; Delhaize in its merger of equals with Royal Ahold; Luxottica in its combination with Essilor; Zodiac Aerospace in its sale to Safran; Richemont in its acquisition of YOOX Net‑A‑Porter, its PIPE investment in Farfetch, in partnership with Alibaba, and the proposed sale of a stake in YOOX Net‑A‑Porter to Farfetch; AXA in its acquisition of XL Group; Technicolor in the sale of its Patent Licensing business and Research & Innovation activity to InterDigital; PSA Peugeot in its strategic alliance with General Motors and Peugeot in its merger with Fiat Chrysler to form Stellantis; AngloGold Ashanti in its corporate restructuring and change to domicile in the United Kingdom and primary listing location to the NYSE, as well as its acquisition of the remaining shares of Corvus Gold and its acquisition of Centamin; Rothschild & Co and its largest shareholder, Concordia, in the take‑private transaction of Rothschild; and Newcrest in its acquisition by Newmont and its acquisition of the remaining shares of Pretivm.

Mr. Stephanakis has been repeatedly cited as one of the leading practitioners in capital markets by, among others, Chambers UK, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 UK, IFLR1000 and The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom. He is also a recipient of the 2013 International Law Office – Lexology Client Choice Award in the Capital Markets category for the United Kingdom, which recognizes partners for their excellent client care and quality of service. In addition, Mr. Stephanakis has been recognized for his work in mergers and acquisitions by The Legal 500 UK and The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Stephanakis was born in Athens, Greece. He received an LL.B. summa cum laude from the University of Athens School of Law in 1994, where he was Editor‑in‑Chief of the Law Review. He was an Erasmus student at the Université de Bordeaux I in 1990 and received an LL.M. from Cambridge University in 1995 and an LL.M., as a Fulbright Scholar, from Harvard Law School in 1997.

Mr. Stephanakis joined Cravath in 1998 and was elected a partner in 2003. He worked at the Firm’s New York office until June 2006. From July 1, 2006 through the end of the year, Mr. Stephanakis was seconded at the Paris office of Bredin Prat. He joined the Firm’s London office at the beginning of 2007. He is fluent in English, French, Greek and Spanish.

Education

  • LL.M., 1997, Harvard Law School
    Fulbright Scholar
  • LL.M., 1995, Cambridge University - Faculty of Law
  • LL.B., 1994, University of Athens School of Law
    summa cum laude

Admitted In

  • New York

Rankings

Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom

  • Capital Markets Law (2022, 2021, 2020)
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2022, 2021)

Chambers Global

  • Capital Markets: Debt (Foreign Experts) - UK (2014, 2013, 2012)
  • Capital Markets: Equity (Foreign Experts) - UK (2012)
  • Capital Markets (Experts Based Abroad) - France (2014, 2013, 2012)

Chambers UK

  • Capital Markets: High‑Yield Products (2025‑2013)

IFLR1000

  • Capital Markets: Debt (Including High‑Yield) - UK (2024-2013)

International Law Office - Lexology

  • Client Choice Award: Capital Markets - UK (2013)

The Legal 500 UK

  • Debt Capital Markets (2025-2017, 2014, 2013)
  • Equity Capital Markets (2025, 2019-2016, 2014)
  • High-Yield (2025‑2013)
  • M&A: Upper Mid‑Market and Premium Deals, £250m+ (2019-2016)

Activities

February 08, 2024

Law360 Names Cravath a 2023 “Capital Markets Practice Group of the Year”

On January 24, 2024, Cravath was featured by Law360 as a “Capital Markets Practice Group of the Year.” The profile highlighted the Capital Markets Practice’s representation of clients, including AngloGold Ashanti in its corporate restructuring and change to its domicile and primary listing location, the underwriters of L3Harris Technologies, Inc.’s $3.25 billion registered notes offering and the underwriter and the dealers of AmerisourceBergen’s $1.6 billion registered secondary common stock offering.

Publications

May 18, 2023

SEC Amends Rules Requiring Disclosures of Issuer Share Repurchase and Rule 10b5‑1 Plans

On May 18, 2023, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “SEC Amends Rules Requiring Disclosures of Issuer Share Repurchase and Rule 10b5‑1 Plans.” The memo examines the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s recently adopted final rules on a number of disclosure requirements related to issuer share repurchases. The memo outlines key features of the new rules, the new tabular disclosures, the new narrative disclosures about issuer 10b5‑1 plans and issuer repurchases, and recommendations for companies. Cravath also published a tailored version of the memo for Foreign Private Issuers.

George A. Stephanakis is Co‑Head of the Capital Markets Practice for EMEA. His practice focuses on capital market transactions and mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Stephanakis’ recent work includes capital market transactions in connection with leveraged buyouts, initial public offerings and secondary equity offerings. He regularly represents issuers and underwriters in high-yield financings, and recently worked on offerings for AngloGold Ashanti, ASDA, AXA, CABB, CGG, CMA CGM, EdF, EG Group, Euronav, France Telecom, Goldstory, Hurtigruten, Lagardere, LeasePlan, Neiman Marcus, PSA Peugeot, RELX, Sappi, Wagamama and Warner Chilcot. Mr. Stephanakis also led the Cravath team that worked on the out‑of‑court debt for equity exchange of Akerys S.A., a French real estate developer, the first such exchange to have been completed in the European high‑yield market.

In mergers and acquisitions and other corporate matters, Mr. Stephanakis has represented Europcar in its acquisition of Vanguard’s European business and the establishment of a strategic alliance between Europcar and Vanguard; the independent directors of KKR Guernsey in the combination of KKR Guernsey with KKR and the subsequent listing of KKR on the NYSE; Exalead, a French software company, in its sale to Dassault Systèmes; GDF SUEZ (now ENGIE) in the sale of a 30% interest in its exploration and production business and a 10% stake in the Atlantic LNG liquefaction plant in Trinidad and Tobago to China Investment Corporation for a total consideration of $4 billion; Saint‑Gobain in the sale of its U.S. glass packaging business to Ardagh Glass; Mediclinic International in its combination with Al Noor Hospitals Group; Delhaize in its merger of equals with Royal Ahold; Luxottica in its combination with Essilor; Zodiac Aerospace in its sale to Safran; Richemont in its acquisition of YOOX Net‑A‑Porter, its PIPE investment in Farfetch, in partnership with Alibaba, and the proposed sale of a stake in YOOX Net‑A‑Porter to Farfetch; AXA in its acquisition of XL Group; Technicolor in the sale of its Patent Licensing business and Research & Innovation activity to InterDigital; PSA Peugeot in its strategic alliance with General Motors and Peugeot in its merger with Fiat Chrysler to form Stellantis; AngloGold Ashanti in its corporate restructuring and change to domicile in the United Kingdom and primary listing location to the NYSE, as well as its acquisition of the remaining shares of Corvus Gold and its acquisition of Centamin; Rothschild & Co and its largest shareholder, Concordia, in the take‑private transaction of Rothschild; and Newcrest in its acquisition by Newmont and its acquisition of the remaining shares of Pretivm.

Mr. Stephanakis has been repeatedly cited as one of the leading practitioners in capital markets by, among others, Chambers UK, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 UK, IFLR1000 and The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom. He is also a recipient of the 2013 International Law Office – Lexology Client Choice Award in the Capital Markets category for the United Kingdom, which recognizes partners for their excellent client care and quality of service. In addition, Mr. Stephanakis has been recognized for his work in mergers and acquisitions by The Legal 500 UK and The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Stephanakis was born in Athens, Greece. He received an LL.B. summa cum laude from the University of Athens School of Law in 1994, where he was Editor‑in‑Chief of the Law Review. He was an Erasmus student at the Université de Bordeaux I in 1990 and received an LL.M. from Cambridge University in 1995 and an LL.M., as a Fulbright Scholar, from Harvard Law School in 1997.

Mr. Stephanakis joined Cravath in 1998 and was elected a partner in 2003. He worked at the Firm’s New York office until June 2006. From July 1, 2006 through the end of the year, Mr. Stephanakis was seconded at the Paris office of Bredin Prat. He joined the Firm’s London office at the beginning of 2007. He is fluent in English, French, Greek and Spanish.

Mr. Stephanakis’ recent work includes capital market transactions in connection with leveraged buyouts, initial public offerings and secondary equity offerings. He regularly represents issuers and underwriters in high-yield financings, and recently worked on offerings for AngloGold Ashanti, ASDA, AXA, CABB, CGG, CMA CGM, EdF, EG Group, Euronav, France Telecom, Goldstory, Hurtigruten, Lagardere, LeasePlan, Neiman Marcus, PSA Peugeot, RELX, Sappi, Wagamama and Warner Chilcot. Mr. Stephanakis also led the Cravath team that worked on the out‑of‑court debt for equity exchange of Akerys S.A., a French real estate developer, the first such exchange to have been completed in the European high‑yield market.

In mergers and acquisitions and other corporate matters, Mr. Stephanakis has represented Europcar in its acquisition of Vanguard’s European business and the establishment of a strategic alliance between Europcar and Vanguard; the independent directors of KKR Guernsey in the combination of KKR Guernsey with KKR and the subsequent listing of KKR on the NYSE; Exalead, a French software company, in its sale to Dassault Systèmes; GDF SUEZ (now ENGIE) in the sale of a 30% interest in its exploration and production business and a 10% stake in the Atlantic LNG liquefaction plant in Trinidad and Tobago to China Investment Corporation for a total consideration of $4 billion; Saint‑Gobain in the sale of its U.S. glass packaging business to Ardagh Glass; Mediclinic International in its combination with Al Noor Hospitals Group; Delhaize in its merger of equals with Royal Ahold; Luxottica in its combination with Essilor; Zodiac Aerospace in its sale to Safran; Richemont in its acquisition of YOOX Net‑A‑Porter, its PIPE investment in Farfetch, in partnership with Alibaba, and the proposed sale of a stake in YOOX Net‑A‑Porter to Farfetch; AXA in its acquisition of XL Group; Technicolor in the sale of its Patent Licensing business and Research & Innovation activity to InterDigital; PSA Peugeot in its strategic alliance with General Motors and Peugeot in its merger with Fiat Chrysler to form Stellantis; AngloGold Ashanti in its corporate restructuring and change to domicile in the United Kingdom and primary listing location to the NYSE, as well as its acquisition of the remaining shares of Corvus Gold and its acquisition of Centamin; Rothschild & Co and its largest shareholder, Concordia, in the take‑private transaction of Rothschild; and Newcrest in its acquisition by Newmont and its acquisition of the remaining shares of Pretivm.

Mr. Stephanakis has been repeatedly cited as one of the leading practitioners in capital markets by, among others, Chambers UK, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 UK, IFLR1000 and The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom. He is also a recipient of the 2013 International Law Office – Lexology Client Choice Award in the Capital Markets category for the United Kingdom, which recognizes partners for their excellent client care and quality of service. In addition, Mr. Stephanakis has been recognized for his work in mergers and acquisitions by The Legal 500 UK and The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Stephanakis was born in Athens, Greece. He received an LL.B. summa cum laude from the University of Athens School of Law in 1994, where he was Editor‑in‑Chief of the Law Review. He was an Erasmus student at the Université de Bordeaux I in 1990 and received an LL.M. from Cambridge University in 1995 and an LL.M., as a Fulbright Scholar, from Harvard Law School in 1997.

Mr. Stephanakis joined Cravath in 1998 and was elected a partner in 2003. He worked at the Firm’s New York office until June 2006. From July 1, 2006 through the end of the year, Mr. Stephanakis was seconded at the Paris office of Bredin Prat. He joined the Firm’s London office at the beginning of 2007. He is fluent in English, French, Greek and Spanish.

Education

  • LL.M., 1997, Harvard Law School
    Fulbright Scholar
  • LL.M., 1995, Cambridge University - Faculty of Law
  • LL.B., 1994, University of Athens School of Law
    summa cum laude

Admitted In

  • New York

Rankings

Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom

  • Capital Markets Law (2022, 2021, 2020)
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2022, 2021)

Chambers Global

  • Capital Markets: Debt (Foreign Experts) - UK (2014, 2013, 2012)
  • Capital Markets: Equity (Foreign Experts) - UK (2012)
  • Capital Markets (Experts Based Abroad) - France (2014, 2013, 2012)

Chambers UK

  • Capital Markets: High‑Yield Products (2025‑2013)

IFLR1000

  • Capital Markets: Debt (Including High‑Yield) - UK (2024-2013)

International Law Office - Lexology

  • Client Choice Award: Capital Markets - UK (2013)

The Legal 500 UK

  • Debt Capital Markets (2025-2017, 2014, 2013)
  • Equity Capital Markets (2025, 2019-2016, 2014)
  • High-Yield (2025‑2013)
  • M&A: Upper Mid‑Market and Premium Deals, £250m+ (2019-2016)

Activities

February 08, 2024

Law360 Names Cravath a 2023 “Capital Markets Practice Group of the Year”

On January 24, 2024, Cravath was featured by Law360 as a “Capital Markets Practice Group of the Year.” The profile highlighted the Capital Markets Practice’s representation of clients, including AngloGold Ashanti in its corporate restructuring and change to its domicile and primary listing location, the underwriters of L3Harris Technologies, Inc.’s $3.25 billion registered notes offering and the underwriter and the dealers of AmerisourceBergen’s $1.6 billion registered secondary common stock offering.

Publications

May 18, 2023

SEC Amends Rules Requiring Disclosures of Issuer Share Repurchase and Rule 10b5‑1 Plans

On May 18, 2023, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “SEC Amends Rules Requiring Disclosures of Issuer Share Repurchase and Rule 10b5‑1 Plans.” The memo examines the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s recently adopted final rules on a number of disclosure requirements related to issuer share repurchases. The memo outlines key features of the new rules, the new tabular disclosures, the new narrative disclosures about issuer 10b5‑1 plans and issuer repurchases, and recommendations for companies. Cravath also published a tailored version of the memo for Foreign Private Issuers.

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