Schulte Roth & Zabel Holds 6th Annual Shareholder Activism Conference

Amid the growth of shareholder activism worldwide, Schulte Roth & Zabelis hosting its 6th Annual Shareholder Activism Conference today in New York. Leading activists and the lawyers of SRZs renowned shareholder activism practice will discuss current issues impacting investors and target companies. The event is by invitation only.

Marc Weingarten and Eleazer Klein, co-chairs of SRZ’s global Shareholder Activism Group, and Christopher S. Harrison, co-chair of the firm’s investment management M&A practice, will moderate panels covering “Current Developments in Shareholder Activism,” “Insights from Activist Team Players,” “Mid-Cap Activism” and “Large-Cap Activism.”

The conference will also bring together industry leaders — including Joseph A. De Perio of Clinton Group, Inc., Paul C. Hilal of Pershing Square Capital Management, Jonathan Litt of Land and Buildings Investment Management, Richard Mansouri of Sandell Asset Management Corp., Scott Ostfeld of JANA Partners LLC, J. Daniel Plants of Voce Capital Management LLC, Brian L. Schorr of Trian Fund Management, L.P., Josh Black of Activist Insight, Warren Chen of Glass, Lewis & Co., Gregg Feinstein of Houlihan Lokey, Bruce H. Goldfarb of Okapi Partners LLC and Elliot Sloane of Sloane & Company, among others.

“We are seeing a rise in campaigns aimed at very large, prominent companies as well as ‘friendly,’ non-public constructivist plays. The bottom line: as activists and companies become more strategic in their approaches, it’s become essential to have sophisticated knowledge of market practices. We hope today’s conference will offer those leading-edge insights,” commented Mr. Weingarten.

Mr. Klein added, “Shareholder activism continues to grow in appeal, both in the United States and in Europe, as the capital markets recognize the concrete value that activist managers bring to companies.” As long time counsel to high-profile activists, SRZ has unrivalled expertise in the applicable corporate laws, securities laws, proxy rules and the current state of market practice on both sides of the Atlantic.

Most recently, Mr. Weingarten and Mr. Klein advised Trian Fund Management, L.P. in its engagement with Sysco Corp., and the lawyers are currently advising Sandell Asset Management in its campaign targeting Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. Additional notable matters handled by the SRZ Shareholder Activism Group include the activist push by JANA Partners LLC that resulted in PetSmart Inc.’s sale to a private equity buyer for $8.7 billion, and in another high-profile case, the securing of four board seats at Bob Evans Farms Inc., where the CEO resigned.

“Our annual Shareholder Activism Conference provides an excellent opportunity to share market-leading expertise and to offer timely intelligence on the issues impacting the industry,” commented Alan S. Waldenberg, chair of the firm’s Executive Committee and chair of the Tax Group.

SRZ is widely recognized as the go-to firm representing the interests of investors, shareholders and target companies alike. According to a Reuters report, SRZ has “come to dominate the activism market,” and

Mr. Weingarten was named one of the “Dealmakers of the Year 2014” by The American Lawyer magazine, which highlighted his work on the “fiercest shareholder activism campaigns and proxy contests in the market.”

SRZ’s Shareholder Activism Resource Center is updated regularly and includes SRZ attorney-authored articles, alerts on cases and emerging rules and regulations, practice highlights, and industry news and publications.

To visit SRZ’s Shareholder Activism Resource Center, click here.