Dear Members,

We are sorry to convey news of the passing of III member, George Kelakos.

III mourns the passing of long-time III and ABI member George Kelakos, who is now at rest after battling the effects of COVID-19 since contracting the virus in November 2020.

Kelakos formed Kelakos Advisors LLC in 2006 and was its managing director in Greenwich, Conn., where he worked as an attorney and business adviser to debtors, creditors, receivers, trustees, assignees for the benefit of creditors and other fiduciaries. Kelakos was a leading authority on cross-border transactional matters, distressed M&A, insolvency and dispute-resolution matters in numerous industries and sectors. For the last 20 years, he also had worked in operating, directorship and advisory roles for Western companies with subsidiaries and affiliates in Southeast Asia and China, Europe and the Middle East. 

George was a one of the original members of III having joined as a founding member in 2002. He was a frequent III panelist and enjoyed attending and participating in III events around the world. Kelakos was an active member of ABI, having served a term as Vice President-International, participated on membership committees, and spoken and written on key intellectual property and international insolvency developments.

George was one of the original members of ABI’s classic rock band, the "Indubitable Equivalents," in 2004 and its lead guitar player, and performed with them as recently as last year’s Annual Spring Meeting.

Kelakos had been a practitioner of external and internal martial arts for more than 50 years (Japanese, Okinawan, Chinese and Indonesian martial arts) and a frequent instructor to experienced martial arts practitioners at U.S. and international workshops, including workshops on “conflict management.” He is survived by his wife, Anchalee, and his sister, Eleni, and will be missed by his many friends, colleagues and bandmates.

His family greatly appreciates the support they have received during this difficult time. Information on memorial services will be provided once arrangements have been made.

Sincerely,

Shari Bedker

III Administrative Director