Legal battles involving proxy disputes or stockholder activism generally arise as part of an overall electoral and business strategy. These types of disputes require close work with companies’ other advisers such as a proxy solicitor, public relations and bankers and constant vigilance to the interplay of the legal and business issues.
Young Conaway represents both boards of directors and significant investors in disputes about who should run the corporation and how it should be run. On the significant investor side, we have represented Pershing Square in litigation with Allergan, Trian in proxy contests with DuPont and P&G, and Yucaipa in litigation with Barnes & Noble. We also represent entities on the defense side, and are familiar with defensive techniques and other methods through which a board can protect company policy.