The 2014 “Shareholder Activism” symposium explored the rise of shareholder activism in corporate governance – motives of activist investors and their impact on companies.

The symposium was structured in three panels plus a keynote:

• Panel 1: “Shareholder Activism – A Bird’s-Eye View” – Defined who activists are and their evolving strategies. Panelists (Prof. Eric Talley, Prof. Paul Rose, Prof. Adair Morse) discussed the profile of modern activists and how companies engage or defend against themlaw.berkeley.edulaw.berkeley.edu.
• Panel 2: “Hot-Button Issues – Current State of Play” – Examined recent developments like new SEC disclosure rules and the role of derivatives in activist campaigns. Speakers included Jordan Barry (USD Law), Diane Frankle (Kaye Scholer), Michael Halloran (Pillsbury), and Steven Tonsfeldt (O’Melveny), moderated by Prof. Robert Bartlett. They debated the value of short-term vs. long-term activist strategies and regulatory gaps in.
• Panel 3: “The Future of Shareholder Activism” – Considered where activism is headed, including private equity involvement and global trends. Panelists Afra Afsharipour (UC Davis Law), Larry Hamermesh (Widener Law), and Mark Perlow (K&L Gates) joined Prof. Talley to forecast legal changes and emerging tactics.

Larry Sonsini (founder, Wilson Sonsini) delivered the luncheon keynote, drawing on decades of Silicon Valley experience to reflect on corporate responses to activism.

The symposium’s rich content was captured in BBLJ Volume 11, including an article by keynote Larry Sonsini and academic essays by panelists.
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Details

Date: Friday, April 4, 2014

Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Venue: Warren Room, Boalt Hall, Berkeley, California 94720