Overview
George Mesires is a trusted advisor to companies facing challenges in corporate restructuring, bankruptcy, distressed M&A, and general corporate matters. His practice also includes advising principals, directors and officers on corporate governance, fiduciary duties and strategy in crises and/or in sensitive matters.
George co-leads the firm’s senior housing and care segment and is a member of the steering committee of the health & life sciences industry team. He has significant experience in the senior housing industry, representing both for-profit and nonprofit operators in a variety of engagements, including affiliations, acquisitions, financings, litigation, governance matters, restructurings and bankruptcy.
Past Experience
Prior to private practice, George was general counsel for a start-up telecommunications company, where he handled all legal affairs for the company, including the distressed sale process for the sale of substantially all of the company’s assets to a regional telecommunications company.
Before serving as in-house counsel, George was an assistant attorney general in the New York State Attorney General’s Office.
Services & Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
New York
Illinois
Court Admissions
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 Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Education
Syracuse University College of Law
J.D. (1995)
Syracuse University School of Management
M.B.A. (1995)
Colgate University
B.A. (1991)
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Other Perspectives
- The Impact of COVID-19 on the Nursing Care Industry: Threats and Signs of Recovery
American Bankruptcy Institute Health Care Committee Newsletter, March 12, 2021 - Senior Housing Real Estate State of the Market
Moderator, 12th Annual Chicago Senior Housing Real Estate Conference, November 10, 2020 - Senior Housing Real Estate State of the Market
Moderator, 11th Annual Chicago Senior Housing Real Estate Conference, November 10, 2019 - 12th Annual Chicago Credit, Restructuring, Distressed Investing and Turnaround Conference
Legal Panelist, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, March 2017 - Investment Outlook: Development & Financing Opportunities in Senior Housing
Moderator, Chicagoland Senior Housing Real Estate Conference, November 2016 - 11th Annual Chicago Credit, Restructuring, Distressed Investing and Turnaround Conference, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Legal Panelist, April 2016 - Mergers and Acquisition Issues for Post-Acute Care Providers
Panelist, American Health Care Association, February 2016 - State of the Market: Current & Future Outlook Financing & Investing
Panelist, Chicagoland Senior Housing Real Estate Conference, November 2015 - ABI Bankruptcy Reform Commission’s Reform Principles Affecting Small and Medium Business Enterprises, Estate Neutrals, Asset Sales, Financing and Venue
Panelist, Chicago’s Exclusive Distressed Investment Summit, April 2015 - Forensic & Valuation Issues in Health Care
Panelist, AICPA Forensic & Valuation Services Conference, November 2014 - Segmented Solutions in the Marketplace
Panelist, 6th Annual Seniors Housing Commercial Real Estate Conference, August 2014 - The Rise of Private Equity and Non-Traded REITs
Moderator, Senior Housing News Summit, July 2014 - Focus on Health Care
The Honorable Robert Ginsberg Annual Program in Commercial Bankruptcy Law, Chicago Bar Association, November 2013 - Advanced Distressed Debt: Recharacterization
Distressed Debt Investing Blog, November 6, 2013 - Lessons Learned From Wave of CCRC Bankruptcies
Senior Housing Business, October-November 2013 - Encountering and Overcoming Financial Distress in the Long-Term Care Industry
Tennessee Health Care Association/Tennessee Center for Assisted Living Annual Convention, August 2013 - Financing & Investment Trends in Senior Housing
Midwest Tri-Housing Conference, sponsored by Illinois Real Estate Journal, June 2013 - Land Acquisition and Development Strategies
Senior Housing News Webinar, June 2013 - The Legal and Practical Implications of Technical and Financial Bond Defaults, Forbearance Agreements, Permanent Debt Restructurings and Bankruptcy
Life Services Network Annual Meeting & Exhibition, May 2013 - Seventh Circuit Extends the New Value Exception to Include Insiders
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, May 5, 2013 - Lead Banks May Shift Preference Risk in Loan Participations
Dow Jones Daily Bankruptcy Review, March 6, 2013
Leadership & Community
Professional Associations
- American Bankruptcy Institute Journal — Associate Editor, 2010-present
- American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) — Asset Sales Committee Newsletter (Editor, 2010-13)
- Law360 — Bankruptcy Editorial Advisory Board, 2010, 2014
- American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) — Post-Acute & Long-Term Services Practice Group
- Turnaround Management Association (TMA), Chicago/Midwest Chapter — Sponsorship Committee (Co-Chair, 2014); Steering Committee, 2011; The Newsletter of Corporate Renewal (Co-Chair, 2011)
- Commercial Finance Association — Sponsorship Committee, 2014
Civic Activities
- The Kendal Corporation — Board of Directors, Strategy Committee, 2015-present
- The Old People's Home of the City of Chicago (governing entity of The Admiral at the Lake) — Board of Directors, Governance Committee, Audit Committee, Resident Services and Compliance Committee, 2013-present
- Antique Boat Museum — Board of Trustees, Long Range Planning Committee (Co-chair), Education Committee, 2016-present
- Illinois Mentoring Partnership — Board of Directors, 2012-17
- St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church — Senior Warden, 2015-17
- St. Chrysostom's Day School — Advisory Board, 2009-14
- Deerfield Academy Alumni Association — Executive Committee, 2011-17
Honors
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business — Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2013-18
- Illinois Super Lawyers — Bankruptcy, Business, 2014-20
- Turnaround Management Association (TMA), Chicago/Midwest Chapter — Small Transactions of the Year Award, 2012 (Fairview Ministries, Inc.'s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case and sale of assets to Lifespace DG, LLC)
- Healthcare Services Turnaround of the Year — Turnaround Atlas Award, 2012 (Fairview Ministries' Chapter 11 case)
- M&A Sixth Annual Turnaround Awards — Chapter 11 Reorganization of the Year (Lower Middle Market), 2012 (Fairview Ministries' case)