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George A. Stamboulidis

Partner

New York
T +1.212.589.4211
F +1.212.589.4201
gstamboulidis@bakerlaw.com
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Sources praise his experience as a former member of the DOJ, and comment that he is "very effective in court." He is considered "the complete package."

— Chambers USA

Overview

A seasoned litigator, George Stamboulidis has tried dozens of complex federal jury trials as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney. Recognized for his experience in the areas of white collar and business defense, George is regularly engaged by corporations, directors and officers to advise and defend in complex federal grand jury and regulatory investigations.

He counsels and successfully represents Fortune 100 companies on FCPA issues, including conducting reviews to make best practice policy enhancements to corporate compliance policies, revise and optimize corporate training programs, and conduct testing to ensure that the policy enhancements are followed. He also routinely advises on enhanced due diligence.

George is trusted for his integrity and sound judgment in corporate monitorship positions. He has been appointed a federal monitor five times by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). George is Managing Partner of BakerHostetler’s New York office and co-leader of the firm’s White Collar, Investigations and Securities Enforcement and Litigation team, which is ranked in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He is a nationally recognized lecturer on corporate criminal liability and the use of proactive defense tactics, and he regularly presents to members of the financial services, insurance, pharmaceutical, energy, construction and real estate industries, among others.

Select Experience

White Collar Criminal Defense
  • Secured complete dismissal of all charges against the CEO of a half-billion-dollar nationwide commercial real estate conglomerate charged in a 73-count fraud and money laundering indictment. Unwavering commitment to establishing the client's innocence resulted in the filing of a compelling pretrial dismissal motion, which established that the indictment was obtained through a defective grand jury process. As part of a multipronged defense strategy, following the pretrial hearing, the entire indictment was dismissed by the court.
  • Obtained full dismissal of a multicount felony indictment against the president of one of New York City's largest HVAC contractors. Used extensive knowledge of the New York construction industry to persuade prosecutors that the client was not the proper target of a wide-ranging criminal investigation into corrupt billing practices of general contractors, who exploited subcontractors to overcharge high-end construction clients.
Complex Commercial Litigation
  • Obtained a federal jury victory for the defense in alleged antitrust price-fixing in the auto parts market.
  • Represented a corporate entity in a trademark infringement case in which a competing brand filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction barring the client from using four logos on licensed goods. Worked to level the playing field for the client during the trial, which resulted in a jury unanimously finding that three of the four trademarks adopted by the client did not infringe on the opposition's trademark rights.

Monitorships
  • As part of its investigation into the collapse of Enron, was selected by the DOJ to serve as the outside independent monitor of Merrill Lynch, at the time the largest firm in the world by capital. Leading a team of attorneys and auditors, reviewed Merrill Lynch's implementation of policies and procedures governing the integrity of complex structured finance transactions and, in close consultation with both senior management, the Board of Directors and the DOJ, made recommendations to optimize policies, controls and training firm wide.
  • Was the principal responsible for BakerHostetler's engagement in its DOJ appointment to serve as Independent Examiner of the Bank of New York. Led a team of attorneys and forensic auditors in monitoring the bank's suspicious activity, reporting practices and anti-money-laundering procedures, as well as its compliance with related laws and regulations. In addition to the bank, reported directly to the United States Attorneys' Offices for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the New York State Banking Department.

More »

Experience

White Collar Criminal Defense
  • Secured complete dismissal of all charges against the CEO of a half-billion-dollar nationwide commercial real estate conglomerate charged in a 73-count fraud and money laundering indictment. Unwavering commitment to establishing the client's innocence resulted in the filing of a compelling pretrial dismissal motion, which established that the indictment was obtained through a defective grand jury process. As part of a multipronged defense strategy, following the pretrial hearing, the entire indictment was dismissed by the court.
  • Obtained full dismissal of a multicount felony indictment against the president of one of New York City's largest HVAC contractors. Used extensive knowledge of the New York construction industry to persuade prosecutors that the client was not the proper target of a wide-ranging criminal investigation into corrupt billing practices of general contractors, who exploited subcontractors to overcharge high-end construction clients.
Complex Commercial Litigation
  • Obtained a federal jury victory for the defense in alleged antitrust price-fixing in the auto parts market.
  • Represented a corporate entity in a trademark infringement case in which a competing brand filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction barring the client from using four logos on licensed goods. Worked to level the playing field for the client during the trial, which resulted in a jury unanimously finding that three of the four trademarks adopted by the client did not infringe on the opposition's trademark rights.
  • Serves as court-appointed counsel to the Securities Investor Protection Act Trustee for the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC.

Monitorships
  • As part of its investigation into the collapse of Enron, was selected by the DOJ to serve as the outside independent monitor of Merrill Lynch, at the time the largest firm in the world by capital. Leading a team of attorneys and auditors, reviewed Merrill Lynch's implementation of policies and procedures governing the integrity of complex structured finance transactions and, in close consultation with both senior management, the Board of Directors and the DOJ, made recommendations to optimize policies, controls and training firm wide.
  • Was the principal responsible for BakerHostetler's engagement in its DOJ appointment to serve as Independent Examiner of the Bank of New York. Led a team of attorneys and forensic auditors in monitoring the bank's suspicious activity, reporting practices and anti-money-laundering procedures, as well as its compliance with related laws and regulations. In addition to the bank, reported directly to the United States Attorneys' Offices for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the New York State Banking Department.
  • Served as the outside independent monitor of Mellon Bank N.A. for the United States Attorney's Office. Led a team responsible for the oversight of Mellon's compliance with the terms and conditions of a settlement agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office. This monitorship continued after Mellon's subsequent merger with the Bank of New York.
  • As the former prosecutor who convicted corrupt politicians exercising improper influence on the operations of the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, New York, was selected, after going into private practice, by the town board to investigate the operation of Brookhaven's landfill, and continues to serve as the monitor for the Town of Brookhaven's Waste Management Department. Reviews applications for access to the landfill, and approves haulers and vendors to mitigate the risk of corruption or illegal dumping and to prevent fraud.
  • In an effort to eradicate organized crime's decades-long infiltration and control of Local 14-14B of the International Union of Operating Engineers, was appointed by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to serve as the Ethical Practices Attorney for the union. Investigates allegations of misconduct by union officers, members and employers; commences disciplinary actions to eliminate corruption and the influence of organized crime from the union; reviews and revises job referrals and other union protocols; and supervises voting procedures and elections for union officers.
  • As monitor of one of the world's largest engineering and electronics conglomerates, led a team that provided an independent report to the New York State Comptroller's Office regarding the corporation's internal controls with regard to compliance, government contracting and procurement systems. The team provided reports and recommendations for action after conducting interviews and testing systems of the organization's medical business.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • Chambers USA: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations in New York (2013 to 2022)
    • Band 3 (2013 to 2022)
  • The Legal 500 United States 
    • Recommended in Dispute Resolution: Securities Litigation - Defense (2022)
    • Recommended in Dispute Resolution - Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense (2016 to 2020)
  • Herald Top Lawyers of Long Island (2021 and 2022)
  • Who's Who Legal: Business Crime Defense (2016 to 2022)
    • Individuals
    • Corporates
  • Ethisphere: Attorneys Who Matter (2015)
    • Specialists - Private Practice
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2010 to Present)
    • New York: Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • New York Metro "Super Lawyer" (2006 to 2022)
  • Martindale-Hubbell: AV Preeminent
  • United States Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance (three-time recipient)

Memberships

  • American Bar Foundation: Fellow
  • Litigation Counsel of America: Senior Fellow
    • Thomas A. Mesereau Cup Selection Committee: Member
  • Trial Law Institute: Member
  • Diversity Law Institute: Member
  • International Association of Independent Corporate Monitors: Member
  • Federal Bar Council
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • New York County Lawyers Association
  • American Bar Association: Advisory Panel
  • New York State Bar Association
  • The Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
  • Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA)
  • Citizens Budget Commission: Board of Trustees

News

News

Press Releases

Publications

Alerts

Articles

Videos

Blog Posts

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Prior Positions

  • United States Department of Justice
    • U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Long Island Division: Chief (1995 to 2001)
      • Selected as the new lead prosecutor in United States v. Wen Ho Lee, involving the mishandling of U.S. classified nuclear weapons secrets. Case was resolved in September 2000 with a felony guilty plea and the defendant’s cooperation.
      • Prosecuted a public corruption trial of the most powerful political leader in Suffolk County, New York. 
      • Tried and won a conviction in United States v. Vincent “the Chin” Gigante (Genovese crime family boss).
      • Tried and convicted the boss of the Colombo crime family.
      • Convicted the underboss of the Lucchese crime family.
      • Three-time recipient of the DOJ Director’s Award for Superior Performance.
    • U.S. Attorney’s Office, Brooklyn, New York, Organized Crime Section: Deputy Chief and Acting Chief (1990 to 1995)
    • Attorney General’s Honor Program, Newark Organized Crime Strike Force (1988 to 1990)
  • Vera Institute of Justice: Consultant to the South African Government on Complex Criminal Justice Issues
  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Louis C. Bechtle of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (1986 to 1988)
  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Steven F. Lefelt, the Chief Administrative Law Judge, New Jersey (1985 to 1986)

Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1990
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2011
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York, 2013
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, 2001
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2001
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, 2001
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1990
  • New York, 1986
  • New Jersey, 1986

Education

  • Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, 2000, Strategies of Persuasion Executive Education Program
  • J.D., Temple University Beasley School of Law, 1985
  • B.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1982, Phi Beta Kappa

Blog

In The Blogs

Previous Next
Blockchain Monitor
Combatting Fraud and Corruption in the NFT Market
By Christina O. Gotsis, Robert A. Musiala Jr., George A. Stamboulidis
August 30, 2022
On Oct. 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the creation of a National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team to tackle investigations and prosecutions of criminal misuses of cryptocurrency. As the non-fungible token (NFT)...
Read More ->
Blockchain Monitor
Top 5 Digital Asset Litigation and Investigation Trends of 2022
By Christina O. Gotsis, George A. Stamboulidis
August 29, 2022
Digital assets have pushed courts to adapt traditional litigation procedures to provide relief to defrauded plaintiffs. Government agencies have also ramped up enforcement efforts while increasing agency coordination, broadening...
Read More ->
Blockchain Monitor
NFT Scandals Coincide with Increased Push for Crypto Regulation
By Christina O. Gotsis, Robert A. Musiala Jr., George A. Stamboulidis
October 7, 2021
Authorship credit: George A. Stamboulidis, Robert A. Musiala Jr., and Christina O. Gotsis Problems caused by the lack of regulation in NFT markets were clearly exposed just last month with the revelation of not one, but two NFT scandals...
Read More ->

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