February 5, 2010
Partners Tariq Mundiya and Michael Schwartz participate in "activism" and corporate governance seminar with Daniel Loeb, Daniel Burch and Stephen Bollenbach.
On February 4, Willkie partners Tariq Mundiya and Michael Schwartz served as key panelists in a timely seminar entitled "Challenges for Corporate Boards in an Era of Heightened Shareholder Engagement." The seminar, attended by about 175 corporate executives and professionals, addressed developments and trends in corporate governance from management, shareholder, legal and market perspectives. In particular, the panel focused on means of shareholder engagement and activism; sources of contention between shareholders and management; how management can prevent and respond to shareholder activism; and roles of the board, executive management and in-house counsel in addressing shareholder initiatives and related legal considerations.
Other distinguished speakers included Daniel Loeb (CEO, Third Point LLC); Stephen Bollenbach (Director, Macy’s and Time Warner; Non-Executive Chairman, KB Home; Former Co-Chairman & CEO, Hilton Hotels); and Daniel Burch (CEO, MacKenzie Partners, Inc.). The discussion was moderated by Jack Friedman (Chairman, Directors Roundtable). In addition to representing corporate boards and managements in an array of "activism" and corporate governance issues, Willkie’s Asset Management Group regularly advises publicly and privately offered pooled investment vehicles, ranging from mutual funds and hedge funds to private equity and venture capital funds, and their managers, on a wide variety of governance matters.
