Despite factors that might have otherwise presented challenges for activists, shareholder activism in Canada proved resilient in 2025. The passing of a year marked by geopolitical and economic uncertainty – a trend which...more
In April 2017, we released our inaugural comprehensive survey of Corporate Governance Trends in the Public REIT Sector: An Evolving Landscape, updated in 2019, which measured and reported on an array of corporate governance...more
Here’s an excerpt from an entry on “Cooley’s M&A Blog” penned by Jamie Leigh, Sean Brownridge, Bill Roegge, Kevin Cooper, Lucas Wherry and Simon Trisk about recent shareholder activism trends and what to expect this year:...more
Boards and senior management teams in 2026 face converging external pressure, regulatory complexity and sophisticated activist strategies, which are reshaping how governance, risk oversight and corporate strategy are judged....more
The Baker Botts Dallas Board of Directors Forum brought together subject matter experts on significant and trending topics in the Debate Chamber at Old Parkland on February 10th, 2026. The key takeaways shared with board...more
Shareholder activism in the life sciences sector has intensified in recent years, with activist funds and other event-driven investors increasingly targeting companies to influence management, governance, strategy, and...more
In this article, we offer an overview of the evolving landscape – covering last year's drivers for activism (from M&A, capital allocation and governance, to the changing role of ESG) as well as institutional investors. With...more
AI has become a regular boardroom topic as its applications proliferate and its evolving capabilities pervade daily life. Boards are formalizing AI oversight and signaling that AI is integral to long-term strategy. Nearly...more
A “short attack” is a campaign in which a short seller publishes a critical report about a target company in order to profit from the ensuing decline in the company’s share price....more
Activists enjoyed a banner year in 2025. From proxy contest wins at blue-chip companies to a partnership with Taylor Swift’s fiancé, engaged shareholders once again demonstrated their capabilities, creativity and readiness....more
Despite geopolitical volatility, tariff policy uncertainty and a slower-than-expected M&A market in the first half of 2025, shareholder activism has not cooled. In fact, 2025 experienced another record year in the U.S. for...more
Companies continue to be pressured to move away from the conglomerate model and toward simplified and targeted strategies and risk profiles....more
Shareholder activism in the public real estate investment trust (REIT) sector has accelerated in recent years, with over 100 public campaigns and related engagements launched since 2020. As M&A markets regain momentum and...more
Effective shareholder engagement is a business imperative. Companies that do it well are more likely than others to build investor trust, anticipate investor expectations, protect against activism, and earn support for...more
Public company boards are operating in a tougher environment. Regulators expect more, investors are better organized, and activists have better tools. The old practice of checking an “independent” box once a year and...more
If precatory proposals are not a guaranteed option, proponents could look to submit binding shareholder proposals under Rule 14a-8 as an alternative, which in practice means binding bylaw proposals that would have direct...more
Wilson Sonsini’s 2025 Silicon Valley 150 Corporate Governance Report reviews the corporate governance practices and disclosures of Silicon Valley’s largest public companies. The report includes information regarding board...more
U.S. activists are increasingly looking to the U.K. for opportunities. What is increasing the appeal of the market? Tom Matthews (TM): Many listed companies in the U.K. and Europe continue to be perceived as undervalued...more
Heading into an initial public offering (IPO), companies spend significant time considering board and committee composition, capital structures, shareholder rights and other governance matters. ...more
Activist campaigns have become an increasingly common strategy for investors seeking to unlock shareholder value. M&A and other transactional-focused strategies have been a top driver of activist activity, with 45 percent of...more
Shareholder activism in the banking sector is on the rise in the United States. To date in 2025, there have been 13 activism campaigns against banks, already surpassing the 10 campaigns from 2024. Importantly, 10 of the 13...more
Engaging with shareholders and responding to shareholder activism continue to be top-of-mind for public companies. These situations present opportunities for management teams and boards of directors to work together to...more
I’ve blogged a few times about how the SEC Chairman Paul Atkins has delivered a speech in which he stated that one of his top priorities is to make being a public company an attractive proposition, with eliminating precatory...more
In the headlines today, it is common to see announcements about activist campaigns or activists taking equity positions in public companies. Nonetheless, full-scale proxy fights have become relatively rare. Most public...more
Activism didn’t pause in 2025 – it evolved. Campaign counts are up, tactics have multiplied, and boards are settling faster and earlier. As Goldman Sachs’ Neil Rudisill put it on Cooley’s Market Talks panel, “We’re on...more