Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

National and international companies across various industries find Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton a reliable choice of counsel when responding to shareholder activists and proxy contests. Activism preparedness advice has been a key area of focus, particularly since the start of the Covid pandemic, and the team assists with a variety of governance change demands. James Langston spearheads the shareholder activism group, with considerable experience in multiple high-profile takeover defense matters. Francesca Odell, head of the corporate advisory practice, is a further senior figure to note. More junior partner Kyle Harris is gaining experience acting for prominent clients from a breadth of industries facing hostile situations. All named lawyers are based in New York.