George R. Sarkis

George focuses his practice on public finance, economic development incentive structuring and finance, and regional governmental cooperation. He assists clients with myriad financing matters and regularly serves as bond counsel, underwriters counsel, issuers counsel, disclosure counsel, and bank counsel. As bond counsel he represents a wide range of state and local governments, port authorities, and development agencies throughout Ohio – the State of Ohio, the Ohio Public Facilities Commission, the City of Akron, Summit County, the Development Finance Authority of Summit County, the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority, the Portage County Port Authority, the Medina County Port Authority, the Akron-Canton Regional Airport Authority, and the Dayton-Montgomery County Port Authority – as well as a number of state colleges and universities in Ohio and other public and private debt issuers, banks, and financial institutions.

Clients appreciate George’s unwavering focus on ensuring that they reach their goals. They know he will aggressively advocate to promote and protect their interests. And they rely on him to take a project from start to finish, negotiate and cooperate with multiple parties, and provide innovative solutions to unforeseen challenges. For example, George has led teams representing public entities that provided the public-private partnerships necessary to redevelop a blighted central-city area for residential, commercial, and entertainment uses, facilitate a major employer in maintaining its global corporate headquarters in the State, and assist an international manufacturing company with the development of a research and development facility servicing North and South American markets.

In addition, George represents lending institutions in the direct-purchase of bonds. He also guides underwriters in public finance transactions.

Experience

• Represents municipalities, counties and port authorities throughout Ohio as bond counsel
• Has served as bond counsel to the State of Ohio and Ohio Public Facilities Commission
• Represents political subdivisions in structuring economic development financing incentives
• Has served as bond counsel for The University of Akron, Kent State University, The University of Toledo, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Cuyahoga Community College, Clark State Community College, and Shawnee State University

Services

• Banking & Financial Services
• Public Finance
• Public / Private Infrastructure
• Public Law

Industries

• Financial Services
• Affordable Housing

1. Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D.
2. Brown University, A.B.
   • with honors

Bar Admissions

1. Ohio

• Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Public Finance Law (2013-2024) and Banking and Finance Law (2024)
• Distinguished Leadership Award, National Association for Community Leadership (2000)
• Distinguished Service Award (1990)
• Leadership Akron, Class of 1986
• AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory

Professional Affiliations

• Akron Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
• Ohio Financing Roundtable
• National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL)
• Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA)

Community Affiliations

• Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Past Chairman
• Akron Children's Hospital Foundation, Past Trustee
• Archbishop Hoban High School, Past Trustee
• Akron Community Foundation, Past Chairman
• Northern Ohio Golf Charities & Foundation, Past Chairman
• Community Support Services, Past Chairman
• Bluecoats of Summit County, Past Trustee
• NEC World Series of Golf in Akron, Ohio, Tournament Chairman (1992)