Activist & Equity Investment Practice Co-Chair Steve Wolosky is a nationally recognized corporate and securities lawyer who counsels clients in the areas of proxy contests and mergers and acquisitions. Steve has been ranked by Chambers USA as a “Leading Lawyer” in Corporate/M&A: Shareholder Activism category.
According to Chambers USA, Steve is “receives plaudits from across the market for his leading shareholder activism practice, which is utilized by leading investment partnerships and hedge funds in significant campaigns”.
A pioneer in shareholder activism, Steve spearheaded Olshan’s Shareholder Activism Practice more than 25 years ago. Today, he is one of the leading lawyers in the country advising hedge funds and investment partnerships on activist situations in the United States and worldwide. Steve advises on some of the most high-profile activist campaigns year-in, year-out.
Most notably, Steve led the representation of Starboard Value on its “historic” full board victory at Darden Restaurants; H. Partners on its successful, precedent setting withhold campaign at Tempur Sealy; Starboard Value in its successful settlement at Yahoo!; Elliott Management in its successful settlement at Alcoa, Inc.; Engaged Capital in its successful campaign at HeartWare International, Inc.; and George Feldenkreis, founder and former Executive Chairman of Perry Ellis International, Inc., in his nomination of directors and successful unsolicited acquisition of Perry Ellis.
In international news-making cases, Steve represented foreign clients who successfully obtained board representation for the first time in both Japan, South Korea and Israel. Steve has led over 650 proxy contests for board representation in his career.
Olshan’s Shareholder Activism Practice led the way again in 2018 as the no. 1 ranked law firm advising in the area of Shareholder Activism. As the nation’s premier practice representing activist investors, Olshan advised on more than 100 activist campaigns in 2018.
Olshan’s no. 1 ranking is highlighted in league tables and publications that cover shareholder activism, including the FactSet SharkRepellent League Table, Refinitiv Global Shareholder Activism Scorecard and Activist Insight Monthly.
Steve advises clients in negotiating mergers and acquisitions and hostile takeovers of public companies. He has extensive experience representing public and private issuers of debt and equity securities, purchasers and sellers in mergers, stock and asset transactions, and investment funds in their formation, capital raising and investment transactions.
Steve frequently counsels corporate clients in corporate planning and structuring activities, corporate governance matters, dealings with stock exchanges, and public company compliance matters.
Steve is regularly quoted as an industry expert in The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, The Deal, Law360, and in other notable media publications discussing important trends in shareholder activism. He also lectures at corporate and securities law conferences, and speaks on distinguished activist panels throughout the country.
Steve has been cited for his preeminence in shareholder activism and corporate and securities. Steve received his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and holds a B.A. from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.
Education :
- J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, 1980
- B.A., Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, 1977
Bar & Court Admissions :
- New York, 1981
- U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1981
- U.S. Court of International Trade, 1981
Cost
Rate : $$$
