Corporate Governance and Shareholder Activism

We are leaders in activism preparedness and defense, with decades of experience drawn from a wide range of contentious situations across industries and around the world. 

The prevalence of shareholder activism continues to grow across all markets and sectors. Preparing for and successfully managing these potentially enterprise-defining situations is a boardroom imperative – and there is no margin of error when it comes to stakeholder communications that can influence the outcome.

Our Approach

We believe in prevention: leveraging our deep boardroom experience, and highly collaborative relationships with internal teams, to buttress companies against the threat of activism. We also run broad-based scenario planning and, if necessary, defense campaigns encompassing communication with all key stakeholders.

Drawing on a decades-long track record of managing a wide range of contentious situations, an intimate knowledge of different activist approaches, and an ability to pivot quickly in response to volatile dynamics, we are an effective partner to a Board and management, ensuring our clients consistently stay one step ahead.

Our Capabilities

We institute a three-pronged approach to prevent and/or prepare for the emergence of activist investors.

If and when the situation evolves, we are ready to implement a communications strategy to ensure the company is best positioned at each stage of an activist engagement.

Help companies become their own internal activists

Assessing shareholder/stakeholder perceptions, refining narratives and honing track records, and examining performance and vulnerabilities in the same way an activist would.

Enhance IR programs and stakeholder engagement

Running the strongest possible investor messaging, leveraging our contacts to create robust and lasting relationships with the media, and seeking out third parties to help refine and advance our client's mandate.

Develop custom scenario-based preparedness programs

We craft contingency plans customized to our client's specific needs and situation, taking into account variables relating to logistics, the media, activist approach, response tactics, and execution.

Our Experts

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Lissa Perlman Partner
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Thomas J. Davies Partner
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Marie von Bismarck Partner
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Dr. Jochen Legewie Partner, Chairman Asia
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Bernhard Meising Co-Chief Executive Officer, Partner
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Arnaud Salla Partner
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Jeremy Fielding Co-Chief Executive Officer, Partner
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Minako Otani Partner
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Roland Klein Partner
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Roland Leithäuser Partner
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Ruth Pachman Partner
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