Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP advises activist investors on shareholder activism matters that frequently sit at the intersection of corporate governance, transactions, and shareholder litigation. The practice is integrated across the firm’s corporate and litigation capabilities, enabling it to support investors through engagement strategies, contested situations, and negotiated resolutions, particularly where campaigns raise complex legal or structural issues beyond core proxy mechanics. The team is also active on company-side mandates, giving it visibility into board dynamics and defensive considerations that shape activist outcomes. Russell Leaf and Tariq Mundiya anchor the firm’s shareholder activism work, combining transactional and contentious perspectives in campaigns involving board composition, governance reforms, and strategic alternatives. Jared Fertman plays a key role on investor-side engagements, supporting activists through negotiation-heavy campaigns and situations involving public company transactions.