Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP > New York, United States > Firm Profile

Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP
1325 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK, NY 10019
NEW YORK
United States

M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism Tier 1

Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP continues to be a standout firm for shareholder activism, routinely serving as counsel to the most prominent investors in the market and involved both in complex matters and in a high volume of mandates. The department is a veteran of all types of activist campaigns, including cross-border work, advising on strategy and campaign management for clients navigating myriad issues. The versatile team is chaired by Andrew Freedman, a pre-eminent figure in shareholder-side activism advice, representing many of the most prolific activist investors and investment funds, as well as newly launched activist investment firms. Vice-chairs Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman and Ryan Nebel are further figures to note; Nebel excels in contentious and complex matters, and Gonzalez-Sussman has recently acted in unsolicited acquisitions and proxy campaigns for control. Shareholder activism pioneer and chair emeritus Steve Wolosky is another team member with vast experience, and Meagan Reda and Kenneth Mantel also stand out.

Practice head(s):

Andrew Freedman; Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman; Ryan Nebel

Key clients

Ancora Advisors, LLC

Bradley Radoff

Browning West LP

Elliott Investment Management L.P.

Engaged Capital LLC

Engine Capital LP

ETFS Capital Limited

Hestia Capital Management, LLC

Huffman Prairie Holdings, LLC

InTandem Capital Partners LLC

Kushner Companies LLC

Land & Buildings Investment Management, LLC

Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC

Lion Point Capital, LP

Macellum Advisors, LP

Marathon Partners Equity Management, LLC

Outerbridge Capital Management, LLC

Starboard Value LP

The Donerail Group LP

Velan Capital, L.P.

Work highlights

  • Advised Land & Buildings on electing one nominee to Apartment Investment and Management Co’s board in the first contested election under the SEC’s new universal proxy card voting rules.
  • Advised Hestia Capital on the first-ever control slate proxy contest to go to a vote under the SEC’s new universal proxy card voting regime at Pitney Bowes, electing four directors.
  • Advised Elliott on its campaign at Salesforce, leading to a collaborative outcome.

Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: transactional and regulatory Tier 3

Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP offers comprehensive regulatory and transactional services to a wide range of international clients. The firm has experience in representing clients in regulatory matters before the FTC and NAD and is notably active in emerging areas, particularly e-commerce, social media NFTs, and the use of AI in advertising. Practice chair Andrew Lustigman is known for his expertise in FTC compliance matters and FDA regulatory requirements, and he frequently represents clients in regulatory investigations. Scott Shaffer is also experienced in regulatory matters, primarily focusing on defending clients in FTC, FCC, and Attorney General matters. Associate Morgan Spina is active in federal and state government and regulatory investigations, as well as advertising agreements. All individuals mentioned are based in New York.

Practice head(s):

Andrew Lustigman

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP has a global presence.’

‘The firm is well-versed in the latest technology, including AI, and their versatility and innovative approach have greatly contributed to our success.’

‘Meticulous, focused, legally knowledgeable, extremely energetic, and very creative.’

‘Always a team capable of dealing with anything we throw at them.’

Key clients

Fareportal Inc.

Fooji, Inc.

Milk Makeup, LLC

Golfballs.com, Inc.

Housewares America, Inc.

Harbor Freight Tools, USA Inc.

North American Nutraceuticals

Pure Radiance, Inc.

Dow Jones & Company

Boost Oxygen

Work highlights

  • Representing Fareportal providing ongoing advice relating to advertising and marketing practices, as well as handling competitor challenges against and on behalf of Fareportal.
  • Advises Fooji on sweepstakes, contests, and related matters pertaining to “pop up” promotions.
  • Advising Milk Makeup in connection with its advertising, regulatory, and intellectual property matters, as well as on “green” environmentally friendly claims.

Olshan, a law firm based in New York, represents major businesses and entrepreneurs in their most significant transactions, problems and opportunities. Olshan’s clients range from public companies, hedge, venture capital, private equity and other investment funds to entrepreneurs and private companies worldwide. Clients choose Olshan for innovative strategies and sophisticated, game-changing advice in corporate, securities law and shareholder activism, complex commercial, corporate and securities litigation, real estate, intellectual property, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, and advertising.

Main areas of practice
Shareholder activism practice group:
Olshan’s shareholder activism group is widely recognized as the global premier practice in representing activist investors in contested director elections. Over the past decade our clients have orchestrated the replacement and appointment of more than 1,000 public company directors across the globe.  We advise on over 100 activist campaigns each year, including many of the most closely followed, high-profile board contests and activist-driven M&A situations The activist group counsels clients on a wide variety of activist strategies, from proxy contests, consent solicitations and hostile takeovers to letter-writing campaigns and behind-the-scenes discussions with management and boards of directors.

Advertising, marketing and promotions: The advertising, marketing and promotions group attorneys are focused on serving the advertising, internet, and promotional marketing industries. Whether utilizing the latest in new digital technology to conduct a sweepstake, incorporating social media into a campaign, or delivering their message through traditional media channels, clients rely on the group for innovative and proactive legal advice that allows them to market effectively.

Corporate/securities law: Olshan’s corporate and securities law group provides experienced and creative counsel to public and private issuers, underwriters, venture capital firms and others in a variety of capital-raising transactions. Clients regularly call upon the group for its expertise in negotiating mergers and acquisitions, credit facilities and other loan transactions, venture capital financings, buyouts and ‘going private’ transactions, navigating contested proxy solicitations, forming and other matters.

Real estate: The real estate law attorneys have particular experience serving clients in the areas of major office buildings, including purchases, sales, financings, space leasing and ground leasing of office buildings, hotels and development sites, retail leasing, where the firm represents major brand retailers in leasing retail space in Manhattan and across the US, ground rent reset arbitrations and real estate joint ventures.

Litigation: The litigation group represents funds, banks and other investors involving securities fraud allegations, broker-dealer disputes, lending, and contests for corporate control. Additionally, the group includes former prosecutors who maintain a white collar defense and whistleblower practice and general commercial litigators involved in a wide array of business and contract disputes involving software development, sales of businesses, sale of goods and more.

Bankruptcy and financial restructuring: The attorneys in the bankruptcy and financial restructuring group represent or have represented creditors, creditors’ committees, debtors, trustees, bondholders, secured creditors and lenders, landlords and buyers and sellers of distressed assets and debt or equity positions in out-of-court restructurings as well as in-court insolvency cases.

Intellectual property law: The intellectual property law group offers expert counsel and litigation capabilities to enable businesses and individuals to establish, protect and exploit their trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. The trademark practice is particularly extensive.

Brand management and protection: Olshan’s brand management and protection group helps clients build strong, enduring brands and protect them from challenges throughout the world, working with clients from brand inception through all stages of marketing and development.

Tax and personal planning: Olshan’s tax and personal planning group provides skilled and sophisticated tax and financial planning services to corporations, partnerships/LLCs and other business entities, high-net-worth individuals, families and fiduciaries of complex estates and trusts.

Employee benefits: the employee benefits group meets the challenges employers face in connection with the compensation of employees and the planning and administration of employee benefits. The group assists in the design and drafting of all forms of executive compensation plans, arrangements and programs.

Employment practices: the employment practices group assists employers in managing their relationships with employees and independent contractors, including preparation of employment contracts, investigations into allegations of discrimination and harassment, counsel on workplace testing and FCRA.

Department Name Email Telephone
Shareholder Activism Practice Group Andrew Freedman afreedman@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2250
Shareholder Activism Practice Group Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman egonzalez@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2206
Shareholder Activism Practice Group Ryan Nebel rnebel@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2279
Advertising, Marketing & Promotions Andrew Lustigman alustigman@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2258
Corporate/Securities Law Mitchell Raab mraab@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2237
Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring Adam Friedman afriedman@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2216
Employee Benefits Stephen Ferszt sferszt@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2229
Employment Practices Michael Passarella mpassarella@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2322
Intellectual Property Law Mary Grieco mgrieco@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2389
Litigation Lori Marks-Esterman lmarksesterman@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2257
Litigation Brian Katz bkatz@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2276
Real Estate Thomas Kearns tkearns@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2273
Real Estate Nina Roket nroket@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2335
Personal Planning Warren Gleicher wgleicher@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2231
Tax Eduardo Cukier ecukier@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2203
Brand Management & Protection Mary Grieco mgrieco@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2389
Brand Management & Protection Andrew Lustigman alustigman@olshanlaw.com 212.451.2258
Photo Name Position Profile
Andrew Freedman photo Andrew Freedman Co-Managing Partner and Chair, Shareholder Activism Practice
Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman photo Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman Partner; Vice Chair, Shareholder Activism Practice
Andrew Lustigman photo Andrew Lustigman Co-Managing Partner; Chair, Advertising, Marketing & Promotions Practice; Co-Chair, Brand Management &…
Kenneth Mantel photo Kenneth Mantel Partner
Ryan Nebel photo Ryan Nebel Vice Chair
Meagan Reda photo Meagan Reda Partner
Scott Shaffer photo Scott Shaffer Partner
Morgan Spina photo Morgan Spina Associate
Steve Wolosky photo Steve Wolosky Chair Emeritus, Shareholder Activism Practice
Number of Partners : 44
Number of Lawyers : 49
Co-Managing Partner : Nina M. Roket
Co-Managing Partner : Andrew M. Freedman
Co-Managing Partner : Andrew B. Lustigman