George Khoukaz
Senior Associate
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Related services and key industries
Biography
A trilingual and bicultural lawyer, George partners with clients to help them find the right solutions to grow or expand their core business or affiliated concepts. He prides himself on being an accessible business partner to clients, ensuring that their needs are met with a high degree of personal attention.
George has experience representing clients in national and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, restructuring transactions, governance, and general corporate and securities compliance matters. His expertise extends to advising private equity firms in structuring, negotiating, and managing investments in companies across a broad range of industries. George maintains a flexible approach to negotiations with a focus on efficiency and practicality, ensuring that transactions are completed smoothly and effectively.
In addition to his M&A and private equity practice, George works on general commercial transactions, such as the negotiation of joint ventures and partnerships, entity structuring, and formation matters. A frequent contributor to the startup community in Dallas, George is proud to represent closely held and emerging companies. He is dedicated to helping startups navigate the complex legal landscape, providing guidance on everything from initial formation to growth and expansion strategies. His involvement in the startup ecosystem underscores his commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
Professional experience
Collapse allJD, University of Missouri School of Law
- Dean's List
- Journal of Dispute Resolution, Editor in Chief
- John E. Burrus Memorial Prize for Outstanding Overall Journal Contribution
- International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution, Best Original Student Article Award Recipient
BA, University of Balamand
- Political Science & International Affairs
- Graduated with distinction and first in class
During law school, George served as judicial extern for the Hon. Patricia Breckenridge of the Supreme Court of Missouri.
- Texas State Bar
- National underwriting and financial advisory firm in the divestiture of its municipal securities business to a regional competitor for $50 million.
- Private equity firm in the acquisition of a telecommunications and IT solutions provider for $160 million, along with several smaller follow-on acquisitions.
- Financial marketplace client on a $200 million minority investment from a multinational holding company.
- Private equity firm in the acquisition of all assets of the target company for $11 million.
- Japanese manufacturer of electric motors in its acquisition of a US-based global manufacturer of motor controllers for $17 million.
- Regional pharmacy owner in the sale of its business to a competitor pharmacy for $11 million.
- Regional business in its asset acquisition of a fire truck manufacturing company for $5.8 million.
- National engineering firm in a series of strategic acquisitions aimed at expanding its core business across the northwest United States, for a total of $20 million.
- US-based Canadian utilities company in its acquisition of a series of water, wastewater, gas, and electric utility systems across the Midwest over a span of two years.
- Purchaser in its asset purchase of a gas station and convenience store. Representation also included handling regulatory filings, termination of all franchise agreement and negotiation of new agreement with gas providers.
- Family-owned businesses in the sale of business to employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs).
- Used farm equipment sales company in its joint venture with a farm equipment auction company to establish the first-ever platform for the sale and bidding of used farm equipment across the United States.
- Canadian family office in over a dozen real estate development joint venture transactions across the United States.
- National hospital system in the acquisition of four hospitals located across two states in the Midwest.
- National distributor of roofing, landscape and swimming pool products in multiple transactions over the years.
- US-based supplier of aluminum products on a management buy-out from its Russian parent entity, including navigating regulatory requirements to separate the business and ensuring compliance with sanctions-related restrictions imposed on Russian companies starting in February 2022.
- An international infrastructure investment company in connection with its joint venture with a highway development company.
- International renewable energy company in its acquisition of contracted operating geothermal and solar assets from competitor for $271 million.
- Dallas-based private equity fund in numerous acquisitions over the years, for an aggregate consideration of over $100 million.
- International parcel carrier in its joint venture transaction with a North American cargo carrier.
- US-based data analytics in the sale of its business to a strategic purchaser for $105 million, including equity rollover component.
- Manufacturer of welded wire reinforcement in the distressed sale of its assets to a competitor for $70 million.
- AI infrastructure company in connection with numerous strategic acquisitions over the years.
- Puerto Rico-based distributor of petroleum products in the sale of its operations to a national distributor of fuels and operator of midstream services for $70 million.
- Leading provider of pediatric care in its acquisition of 11 primary and urgent care clinics in Houston from a public company.
- Houston-based hydraulic fracturing company in its restructuring and capital raise transaction.
- German-based global healthcare packaging in its acquisition of US-based medical device design, development and contract manufacturer with global operations for $50 million.
- Data-analytics company in its merger with a software company for $60 million.
- Non-profit organization in the education sector in the acquisition of all its assets by another non-profit entity.
- Texas-based family office in creating an investment vehicle focused on developing and establishing coffee kiosks throughout Texas and Florida.
- Major US bank in establishing US depositary shares account for numerous clients.
- Middle-East-based telehealth company in connection with commencing its trading on NASDAQ.
- Served as insurance underwriter’s counsel with respect to the underwriting of representations and warranties and transactional liability insurance policies for over 50 transactions.
- Global financial institution in deploying its endowment by investing across multiple target funds and operating companies.
- Financial services holding company that develops comprehensive surety and insurance solutions in an internal restructuring to streamline its operations and liberate cash for operations.
- Financial technology company in a $200M private equity financing by global funds.
- Real estate investment trust, in its acquisition of a regulated crude oil pipeline owner and operator for $350 million.
- Public US-based biopharma company in its merger with a public Canadian-based pharma company in a cross-border transaction.
- Global oil and gas company in a series of strategic acquisitions spanning both its traditional oil and gas sectors and its renewable energy initiatives.
- Medical waste services public company, in connection with its sale to private equity fund.
- National staffing company in the sale of substantially all its Light Industrial segment assets to a leading job marketplace headquartered in Madrid, Spain.
- US-based energy company in its stock-for-stock cross-border business combination with Canadian-based energy company, creating a combined global entity with an implied combined enterprise value of approximately $1.5 billion.
- The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, Corporate Law, Best Lawyers, 2023-2025
- The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Best Lawyers, 2023-2025
- Missouri Bar Pro Bono Wall of Fame (2018-19)
- Moderator, Nuancing National Security: Diplomacy's Role in National Security, International Relations Council of Kansas City (Sep. 2021)
- Moderator, Ripples of Syria, International Relations Council of Kansas City (Mar. 2021)
- Presenter, Legal Days Series – Corporate Section, T-Mobile Accelerator (Jun. 2020)
- Presenter, Two Types of Business Entities, Global Entrepreneurship Week of Kansas City (Nov. 2019)
- Presenter, Lawyers: When, Why, Who?, LaunchKC Health Accelerator (Sep. 2019)
- Speaker, Unmasking Tomorrow's Workforce, Innovation Exchange (Mar. 2019)
- International Relations Council of Kansas City, Program Committee member (2020-21)
- Arabic
- French