Greg Torborg, Principal

Mr. Torborg is an attorney who possesses a wealth of sports business experience. Mr. Torborg specializes in corporate transactions and sports law, including the representation of Major League Baseball clubs and the handling of the acquisition and sale of minor league sports franchises.

Mr. Torborg represents several Major League Baseball clubs in payroll evaluation, long-term contract proposals and salary arbitration cases. He has prepared more than 100 salary arbitration cases on behalf of Major League Baseball clients, including the New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals. In 2006, for example, Mr. Torborg successfully argued the landmark salary arbitration hearing in which the Washington Nationals defeated All-Star second baseman Alfonso Soriano, who was seeking a record $12 million salary. Mr. Torborg also counsels entities and individuals involved in the sports industry on a variety of legal matters, including the representation of ownership groups in the acquisition and sale of minor league sports franchises.

Aside from his expertise in the area of sports law, Mr. Torborg has extensive experience in corporate transactional work. He has handled an array of mergers and acquisitions on behalf of U.S. and international corporations. Mr. Torborg also represents software production companies, television/video production entities and new media companies in commercial transactions, financing agreements and day-to-day business affairs. Additionally, Mr. Torborg is skilled in the drafting and negotiation of trademark and technology licenses on behalf of high-profile clients.

Mr. Torborg benefits from a lifetime of immersion in the sports industry. He was selected out of high school by the New York Yankees in the 1986 Amateur Draft, but instead chose to attend Duke University on a baseball scholarship and later played baseball at Columbia University. In addition, he is the son of Jeff Torborg, a veteran of more than 40 years in Major League Baseball as a player, manager and broadcaster. Both of Mr. Torborg’s brothers played minor league baseball, one of whom is currently the minor league Strength & Conditioning Coordinator for the Chicago White Sox.

Mr. Torborg earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Columbia University and his Juris Doctor from Fordham University. He is a member of the Sports Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association and the National Sports Marketing Network. Mr. Torborg is licensed to practice law in New York, Florida, New Jersey and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Torborg resides in Manhasset, New York with his wife, Karen, and two children.


Andrew W. Samaan, Principal

Mr. Samaan is an attorney with expertise in capital formation, transaction analysis, negotiation and execution.  Mr. Samaan advises clients on corporate transactions, and various other transactions from both a financial and legal perspective.

Mr. Samaan also advises entities and individuals involved in the sports industry on a variety of legal matters, including the representation of investor groups and owners in the acquisition and sale of minor league sports franchises.

Aside from his expertise in representing investors and owners, Mr. Samaan has extensive experience in corporate transactional work. He has worked in excess of $5 billion in mergers and acquisitions transactions and issuance of corporate securities on behalf of U.S. and international corporations. Mr. Samaan has advised new media companies in capital formation, intellectual property matters and on-going operations.

Prior to joining Columbia Sports Group, Mr. Samaan worked in various high level positions for a media content company.  Additionally, Mr. Samaan worked for Prudential Securities Inc., where he provided middle market companies with sell side, buy side and defense advisory services.  Mr. Samaan also worked as a corporate securities lawyer in New York and London and provided counsel on the issuance of corporate securities to U.S. and international corporations. 

Mr. Samaan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Loyola College and his Juris Doctor/MBA from Fordham University. He is a member of the Sports Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and the New York City Bar Association. Mr. Samaan is licensed to practice law in New York, Connecticut and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Samaan currently sits on the Board of Directors for Optionable, Inc.  Nasdaq: OPBL.

Mr. Samaan resides in Westchester with his wife, Mollie, and three children.