She served as vice chair of the shareholder activism practice at Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP
Skadden, a global law firm, announced that Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman will join as a partner in its mergers and acquisitions (M&A) group and head of its shareholder engagement and activism practice.
Gonzalez-Sussman will begin her role in September, operating out of the New York office. She will provide strategic advice to clients worldwide on how to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to activist campaigns.
Gonzalez-Sussman most recently served as vice chair of the shareholder activism practice at Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP, where she advised hedge funds and large investors on the strategy and execution of shareholder activism-related activities for nearly two decades. She has also counseled boards and management teams of both public and private companies on issues related to shareholder activism, board disputes, M&A transactions, and corporate governance matters. At Skadden, her focus will be exclusively on company-side representations.
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“The past two and a half years have been the busiest on record for shareholder activism, and the pace of activity shows no signs of slowing down. Against this backdrop, Elizabeth’s leadership will best position us to provide strategic solutions to the broad array of clients who turn to us for guidance in response to shareholder activist demands,” said Skadden executive partner Jeremy London. “She is one of the most highly regarded lawyers in the shareholder activism arena, and we are thrilled she is joining us.”
Gonzalez-Sussman’s addition is seen as a strategic enhancement to Skadden’s capabilities in managing complex shareholder engagement and activism cases. “Elizabeth’s extensive experience advising activist investors will provide valuable insights for our clients in shareholder engagement and activist situations,” said Allison Schneirov, global head of Skadden’s transactions practices. “Bringing her on board to spearhead our shareholder activism defense efforts reflects our deep commitment to continuing to provide comprehensive, cutting-edge advice on the issues of greatest importance to our clients.”
Richard Grossman, an M&A partner at Skadden, highlighted the significance of Gonzalez-Sussman’s experience in the international context. “Elizabeth’s deep background advising shareholder activists will be a tremendous resource in planning for and responding to activist campaigns, not only in the U.S. but in Europe, Japan, and Canada, where we have seen an uptick in the frequency and sophistication of activist activity over the past few years,” he said. “Her collaborative nature, tenacity, and energy will fit seamlessly into our firm’s integrated approach to serving our clients.”
Gonzalez-Sussman expressed her excitement to join Skadden, highlighting the firm's involvement in major transactions and disputes for top clients and stating eagerness to work on complex, high-stakes shareholder activism cases while expanding the firm's practice globally.
