Sam Abbasi
International Corporate Counsel for Companies Entering the US Market
Sam Abbasi is a corporate and commercial attorney qualified in Colombia. He works with BT Attorneys on cross-border transactions, general corporate matters, and US market entry for foreign companies and individuals. He works directly with the firm's leading partners on M&A, governance, and commercial contracts for US and international clients.
For a business owner outside the US, the legal side of entering the American market is usually the least familiar part of the move. Sam helps international clients figure out what US expansion actually requires, how to structure it, and what to deal with before it becomes a problem. He's advised entrepreneurs, investors, and internationally mobile clients on corporate and commercial matters across the U.S., Colombia, and European and Middle Eastern jurisdictions.
Areas of Focus
- US Market Entry: Structuring and executing US expansion for foreign companies and individuals, including entity formation and US operational setup
- Corporate & Governance: Operating agreements, shareholder arrangements, board and member consents, and corporate records for closely held and growth-stage companies
- Mergers & Acquisitions: Drafting and redlining transaction documents, disclosure schedules, and ancillary closing documents for business-sale and M&A matters
- Commercial Contracts: Drafting and reviewing MSAs, NDAs, service agreements, and a wide range of commercial agreements
- International & Cross-Border Matters: Advising internationally mobile clients on commercial, formation, and business matters across jurisdictions
Need help? Contact Sam Abbasi
sabbassi@thebtattorneys.com
Why Choose Us
Reasons Clients Work With Sam Abbasi
Cross-Border Perspective
Sam has advised entrepreneurs, investors, and internationally mobile clients across US, Colombian, and cross-border contexts. He knows how a deal reads from both sides of the border.
US Market Entry
For foreign companies and individuals moving into the US, Sam plans and structures the entry, from entity selection through the contracts and governance documents that support US operations.
Counsel in Spanish
As a native Spanish speaker, Sam gives Spanish-speaking clients direct access to corporate and transactional counsel in their own language, with nothing lost in translation.
Transactional depth
Sam drafts and negotiates the documents that carry a deal to close: purchase agreements, operating agreements, disclosure schedules, closing deliverables. On complex matters he works directly with the firm's lead partner.
Education & Background
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
EAFIT University, Medellín, Colombia. His graduating dissertation was recognized as the strongest research work of the 2023 cohort.
Advanced LL.M. in International and European Law (in progress)
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
Qualifications & Training
Qualified to practice law in Colombia. Law and Communication Intensive Course, UCLA Extension, Los Angeles. Continuing coursework in law, technology, and intellectual property.
Languages
Spanish (native), Persian (native), English (full professional proficiency).
What Our Clients Say
Sean - CEO & Co-Founder
Gil Melman has served as our outside council for several years. He has provided outstanding legal guidance and support for a broad range of our needs. Gil can be a bulldog when it comes to protecting our position. However, he is pragmatic with regard to business relationships and needs. I have led multi-billion dollar businesses at large corporations, and I can honestly say that Gil has provided us the best legal representation in my career. It has been my experience that most corporate lawyers see things in black and white. Gil advises on the black and white will also educating me on the aspects and mitigation strategy for the gray areas as well. This is extremely valuable because things usually end up in these gray areas, and I am better prepared.
Scott - President & Founder
Highly Recommend. We had a very complex purchase, included upfront and residual payments, in addition to stock allocations of different types. Gil did an amazing job of protecting us and catching all of the little details that we missed. When engaging in negotiations on terms, he had the right amount of force to get things done, but with a touch that kept everyone agreeable and into the deal. He utilized different levels of his team to make sure we were financially satisfied. We have used Gil for different projects and obviously he earned the trust for us to use him on our most important project. Thank you! Highly recommended for all levels of work, he is incredibly knowledgeable.
Chris - CFO
Gil Melman has served as our outside general counsel for the past year, and he and his team have been outstanding partners to our organization. They provide practical, business-minded advice across a wide range of matters and are a trusted resource for both our Board of Directors and senior executive team. Gil’s team is consistently efficient, responsive, and solution-oriented — true problem solvers rather than problem creators. We receive highly experienced legal guidance at reasonable rates that traditional law firms simply can’t match. I would wholeheartedly recommend Gil and his team to any company seeking exceptional outside general counsel services.
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Head Office
Houston, Texas
3700 Buffalo Speedway #1150, Houston, TX 77098