Shareholder Activism

Hamilton Clarke’s Shareholder Activism practice brings highly sophisticated expertise to all aspects of shareholder activism, proxy contests, and takeovers. 

With a unique combination of experience on both the investor and company side, we advise our clients on: 

• Activist strategy 
• Corporate governance 
• Proxy rules, securities laws and compliance 
• Tender offers and hostile take-overs 
• Offensive and defensive litigation 
• ESG 

Members of our Shareholder Activism group have represented and advised activist investors, strategic investors, occasional activists, as well as public company clients on activism and takeover preparedness and defense. 

In addition to traditional company engagements, our team has robust experience in activist campaigns against business development companies and closed-end funds. We are savvy in our approach and often find pressure points that have resulted in the successful removal of management. 

When planning an activist strategy, our attorneys work together from the outset to identify and preempt issues that may arise. 

Activism, proxy contests, tender offers and takeovers – which often include a litigation component – involve a fast moving and dynamic process that requires a team of experienced attorneys. 

We work together to address complex, multi-faceted issues that are intertwined and affect one another. We excel at the art of the deal, not just the science, and always plan steps ahead while not losing sight of the big picture. 

Our success is driven by integrating into one team high-end corporate, securities and litigation practitioners, all highly experienced in both the corporate and litigation side of campaigns, proxy contests, tender offers and other related litigation. 

Our extensive experience in Delaware, including litigating in Delaware Chancery court as well as other courts around the country, allows us to proactively plan for and address issues and pressure points before they occur, mitigating the need to react defensively. 

Our Shareholder Activism Practice also has significant experience on campaigns involving foreign companies listed as a U.S. exchange, as well as on international engagements including Australia, Canada, the Cayman Islands, China and the U.K.