Shareholder Activism: Fewer Fights But Heightened Vulnerability in the Face of AI Disruption and Jittery Markets
Kirkland partner Shaun Mathew, who leads the Firm’s shareholder activism and hostile takeover defense practice, joined Bloomberg Deals with anchor Dani Burger to discuss the current state of shareholder activism and what these evolving trends could mean for companies and investors. Mr. Mathew previously joined Bloomberg Deals in April of this year.
In a wide ranging conversation, Shaun addressed the record pace of activist investor campaigns in 2026, the continued decline in proxy fights and the heightened vulnerability companies nonetheless face in the wake of AI disruption and jittery markets.
Kirkland’s market leading shareholder activism and hostile M&A defense team, ranked in Band 1 by both Chambers and Legal 500, advises public companies and their boards across the full spectrum of activist engagements, proxy fights, contested deals, unsolicited approaches and other high stakes board crisis and corporate governance matters. The Firm’s integrated platform gives clients the benefit of the Firm’s full-time activism defense practice in partnership with senior partners in our public company advisory, M&A, capital markets, and litigation practices to deliver innovative counsel and solutions designed to serve the best interests of our clients and their strategic objectives.
