Michael George DeSombre

Ambassador Michael George DeSombre is recognized as one of the preeminent M&A and private equity lawyers in the world and is a frequent speaker on the art of negotiation. Ambassador DeSombre leads the Asia Mergers & Acquisitions Practice and also heads both the Korea and Southeast Asia Practices for Sullivan–& Cromwell. Beginning in 2022 Ambassador DeSombre works out of both the Palo Alto office and the Hong Kong Office and is part of the technology M&A team in Silicon Valley. Ambassador DeSombre rejoined the firm in Fall 2021 after having served as the United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand from 2020 through 2021.

Ambassador DeSombre is also a member of the Firm’s National Security Practice where he seamlessly integrates his global M&A and private equity expertise with his diplomatic experience to help clients navigate evolving national security regulations and the constantly shifting geopolitical landscape. Multinational clients rely on Ambassador DeSombre to craft strategies that address the diverse political and policy considerations that can arise from joint venture projects, mergers and acquisitions, investments, and other cross-border transactions. He is also deeply familiar with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and has counseled clients on the full range of CFIUS issues, including sensitivities of national security. Ambassador DeSombre frequently speaks on managing the geopolitical risks and commercial opportunities and strategies for companies doing business in China.

Since moving to Hong Kong in 1997, he has focused his practice on public and private merger and acquisition transactions, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures and direct investments in China, Korea, Southeast Asia and elsewhere in Asia. Ambassador DeSombre is fluent in Mandarin and has some ability in Korean.