George Kostolampros
Partner
George also counsels clients on corporate governance, internal controls, and compliance programs relating to the securities and anti-corruption laws.
Prior to joining Venable, George was a senior counsel in the SEC’s Enforcement Division in New York and Washington, DC, where he investigated federal securities law violations, including accounting fraud, improper mutual fund trading, market manipulation, and FCPA violations. He worked closely with other federal and state agencies, including DOJ, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and the New York Attorney General’s Office.
In addition to his securities enforcement and compliance practice, George also represents companies and individuals in private securities litigation, corporate governance, and other business disputes, as well as in False Claims Act investigations and litigation.
Experience
Experience
Government Experience
- Senior counsel, Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Enforcement
Representative Matters
- Represented an investment adviser and its partners in an SEC enforcement administrative proceeding in which novel constitutional issues were raised that led to the D.C. Circuit vacating the administrative proceeding and ultimately to a settlement in which all charges against the partners were dismissed and a books and records settlement with the adviser entity. Timbervest LLC, et al. v. SEC, 15-1416 (D.C. Cir.)
- Represented the CFO of a publicly traded company with sales of more than $1 billion in an SEC investigation into allegations of accounting improprieties and earnings management; led to no enforcement action against client after Wells submission
- Represented an AmLaw 100 firm in an SEC investigation of the firm’s former client; SEC ultimately brought an action against the firm’s former client, alleging that the firm and its president devised a fraud and Ponzi scheme; no action was brought against the client
- Represented former controller of StarMedia, Inc. in an SEC enforcement action brought in the Southern District of New York relating to alleged misstatements regarding revenue recognition. SEC v. Espuelas, et al., 06-civ-2345 (SDNY)
- Represented the CFO of a publicly traded company in an SEC enforcement proceeding related to SOX Section 304 clawback
- Represented the CAO of a publicly traded company in an internal investigation and SEC investigation into earnings management; led to no action being brought against the client
- Represented the audit committee of a publicly traded company in an internal investigation into whether company officers misstated the company’s financials and disclosures regarding the value of assets (initially valued at more than $1 billion); presented findings to the special committee, auditors, and the SEC
- Represented a national stock exchange in a class action filed in the Southern District of New York relating to high-frequency trading; complaint was dismissed and the dismissal affirmed by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals
- Represented an investment bank with operations overseas, in an FCPA review and enhancement of policy and procedures
- Part of team representing a multinational corporation in DOJ and SEC FCPA investigation
- Conducted FCPA M&A and third-party due diligence reviews
- Represented clients in a CFTC and SEC investigation into the marketing of binary options trading; led to clients receiving cooperation credit by both agencies
- Represented a foreign national and his company in a criminal proceeding alleging that the client conspired to export aircraft parts to Iran, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Iranian Transaction Regulations
- Represented clients in forfeiture proceedings as third-party claimants
- Represented clients in FINRA investigations and proceedings
- Represented clients in numerous investigations conducted by state securities regulators, including in New York, Massachusetts, California, New Hampshire, and Maryland
Insights
Insights
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- J.D. magna cum laude Widener University School of Law 1999
- Executive Managing Editor, Widener Law Journal
- President's Award Recipient
- B.A. Syracuse University 1996
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Recognition
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2019 – 2023