Shareholder Activism continues to be a topic on the mind of IROs and management teams across the country. No industry seems to be immune to a potential activist campaign and companies of all market caps can find themselves in the cross-hairs.

Please join us as two seasoned activism experts, Lawrence Elbaum, co-head of the Shareholder Activism practice at Vinson & Elkins, and Jason Alexander, Managing Director of Okapi Partners, have a candid discussion of shareholder activism from both sides of the battle. Our panelists will discuss:

• Current activist situations
• The direction they see activism heading
• Impact to companies of the proposed changes to the 13-F filings
• Activists use of ESG in campaigns
• Being prepared to engage with a potential activist

And share a few tales from the trenches with us.

Please join us on October 22, 2020 at 12:30 PM CST for what is sure to be an excellent session.

Lawrence Elbaum is a partner and co-head of the Shareholder Activism practice at Vinson & Elkins, based in New York City. Over the past five proxy seasons, Lawrence has successfully led over 100 defense engagements across all market capitalizations and covering virtually every industry, including retail/wholesale, restaurant, hospitality, energy, mining, manufacturing, engineering, pharmaceutical and real estate/REITs.

Lawrence leverages more than a decade of experience as a securities attorney and business advisor to counsel senior management and boards of public companies with respect to shareholder activism campaigns and complex corporate governance matters. He is highly experienced in advising clients concerning proxy fights, merger contests, consent solicitations, “Withhold the Vote” or “Vote No” campaigns, precatory proposals and short attacks. He also counsels clients on strategic investor relations and shareholder activism-related litigation and investigations in the U.S. and abroad, as well as represents select investors in activism campaigns against public companies.

Outside of the office, Lawrence works with organizations to promote gender and ethnic diversity in public company boardrooms across Corporate America. He also devotes significant efforts to pro bono work, including having represented battered and indigent women in connection with divorce, alimony, and child custody and support proceedings in New York City. In addition, he supports a host of regional, national and global charities, including various Holocaust remembrance and genocide prevention initiatives, The Boys and Girls Club of America and Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone.

Jason regularly consults with companies on matters requiring shareholder approval. He specializes in proxy solicitation, corporate governance consulting, mergers and acquisitions, small shareholder programs and pre-escheat services. His expertise encompasses proxy and corporate governance issues.

Jason was with Georgeson Inc for over 18 years and worked on transactions for over 400 companies covering all business sectors. Jason spent over three years in Toronto with Georgeson’s Canadian business, where he was responsible for sales and operations management across all product lines.

Jason is a member of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) and the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Corporate Governance Professionals. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the State University of New York at Albany and is a frequent speaker on corporate governance and shareholder activism at a variety of conferences and industry organizations.